The genus Erinnyis has 8 species in the USA, and about 13 around the world. This is a New-World genus.
Type specimen: Sphinx (Erinnyis) ello -Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms: N/A
General Information: These are moths that vary in size from small to medium. They usually have orange or red hindwings (one species has gray) with dark mottled forewings of gray/brown/black.
If you have narrowed something down to this genus, you can use this key to help you narrow down your search to species:
1: Forewing length is small, under 30mm in length (2)
1’: Forewing length is larger, over 30mm in length (3)
2: Small forewings that are variable from gray to black. May be heavily mottled. The thorax is distinctly gray. The hindwings are red with no black edge. There is a blue/black area in the anal angle of the hindwing… Erinnyis obscura
2’: Forewings very small and plain gray. The hindwings are pure gray. The thorax may have a darker streak in the middle, but is overall gray… Erinnyis cubensis
3: Forewings are distinctly gray (4)
3’: Forewings are distinctly brown (6)
4: Forewing distinctly gray. Males may have a black streak that runs from the basal part of the wing to the apex. The hindwings are red with a black outline that doesn’t enter the basal angle of the hindwing. There is a small blue spot in the anal angle… Erinnyis ello
4’: Not as above. Uncommon stray (5)
5: Forewing gray and heavily maculated with brown and white. There are two dark areas surrounding the discal area in the wing. The hindwings are red with a black margin that stretches nearly the length of the hindwing. An uncommon stray… Erinnyis oenotrus (female)
5’: Forewing gray with brown and white maculations. There are two parallel stripes that run from the basal part of the forewing to the inner margin. The hindwing is red with a very small bluish region near the anal angle. A very rare stray… Erinnyis yucatana
6: Forewings distinctly brown with a lighter area that runs through the subterminal area. The apex of the forewing is dark. The hindwings are bright yellow-orange with black edging… Erinnyis alope
6’: Forewings brown or black but the apex of the forewing is light (7)
7: Forewings are dark in color, with lighter coloration in the apex, submarginal, and subterminal areas. The hindwing is red with a smooth black margin. An uncommon stray… Erinnyis oenotrus (male)
7’: Forewings are dark, with lighter areas limited to the apex and subterminal areas if present at all (8)
8: Forewings are very dark (black usually), with a light apex and lighter subterminal area. The thorax is dark brown with lighter coloration on the sides. The hindwings are red black edging stopping before the basal area. The anal angle has a blue spot… Erinnyis lassauxii
8’: Forewings are dark brown, with lighter brown areas in the apex and subterminal area. The thorax is uniformly brown. The hindwing is red with a scalloped black margin… Erinnyis crameri
Species List:
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis obscura
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis yucatana
Erinnyis cubensis
The gallery below shows photos of select species in the genus.
Type specimen: Sphinx (Erinnyis) ello -Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms: N/A
General Information: These are moths that vary in size from small to medium. They usually have orange or red hindwings (one species has gray) with dark mottled forewings of gray/brown/black.
If you have narrowed something down to this genus, you can use this key to help you narrow down your search to species:
1: Forewing length is small, under 30mm in length (2)
1’: Forewing length is larger, over 30mm in length (3)
2: Small forewings that are variable from gray to black. May be heavily mottled. The thorax is distinctly gray. The hindwings are red with no black edge. There is a blue/black area in the anal angle of the hindwing… Erinnyis obscura
2’: Forewings very small and plain gray. The hindwings are pure gray. The thorax may have a darker streak in the middle, but is overall gray… Erinnyis cubensis
3: Forewings are distinctly gray (4)
3’: Forewings are distinctly brown (6)
4: Forewing distinctly gray. Males may have a black streak that runs from the basal part of the wing to the apex. The hindwings are red with a black outline that doesn’t enter the basal angle of the hindwing. There is a small blue spot in the anal angle… Erinnyis ello
4’: Not as above. Uncommon stray (5)
5: Forewing gray and heavily maculated with brown and white. There are two dark areas surrounding the discal area in the wing. The hindwings are red with a black margin that stretches nearly the length of the hindwing. An uncommon stray… Erinnyis oenotrus (female)
5’: Forewing gray with brown and white maculations. There are two parallel stripes that run from the basal part of the forewing to the inner margin. The hindwing is red with a very small bluish region near the anal angle. A very rare stray… Erinnyis yucatana
6: Forewings distinctly brown with a lighter area that runs through the subterminal area. The apex of the forewing is dark. The hindwings are bright yellow-orange with black edging… Erinnyis alope
6’: Forewings brown or black but the apex of the forewing is light (7)
7: Forewings are dark in color, with lighter coloration in the apex, submarginal, and subterminal areas. The hindwing is red with a smooth black margin. An uncommon stray… Erinnyis oenotrus (male)
7’: Forewings are dark, with lighter areas limited to the apex and subterminal areas if present at all (8)
8: Forewings are very dark (black usually), with a light apex and lighter subterminal area. The thorax is dark brown with lighter coloration on the sides. The hindwings are red black edging stopping before the basal area. The anal angle has a blue spot… Erinnyis lassauxii
8’: Forewings are dark brown, with lighter brown areas in the apex and subterminal area. The thorax is uniformly brown. The hindwing is red with a scalloped black margin… Erinnyis crameri
Species List:
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis obscura
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis yucatana
Erinnyis cubensis
The gallery below shows photos of select species in the genus.
