SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Sphinx  drupiferarum

Smith, 1797

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Common Name(s): Wild Cherry Sphinx

Ecology and Life History Overview: This is a moth that has been in decline in the Northeast (12). It has a very patchy distribution in the East, but it is far more common in the West. In the Eastern USA, I have noticed they seem to like pine barrens habitats, especially ones with lots of Prunus maritima (1). Sam Jaffe has found a fairly large thriving population in New Hampshire (11).  Adults seem to have a very long singular flight period, from May through July in the Northeast and caterpillars appearing in June through September (1). The flight times of adults are strange, they tend to come to light at various points in the night. I have seen them in the early evening, and also past midnight (1). Females lay eggs on various Prunus species including maritima and serotina, likely on the underside of leaves. Larvae eat in the tree, and are fairly camouflaged. Final instar larvae have a habit of stripping branches of their host, making them easily to spot (1).
​

Searching for Larvae and Rearing Notes: Final instar larvae glow quite well under UV light, and make them quite easy to find. It is likely certain populations have distinct preferences for certain Prunus species. Females will lay in paper bags, and larvae are easy to rear on Prunus serotina on either cut food, or sleeving. Larvae should be kept well ventilated, but they don’t seem to mind being housed with other larvae (1). Larvae pupate extremely well in soil, or in the prefered method of placing larvae in a tub filled with a base layer of damp paper towels, then 3-4 layers of dry towel on top (1). This method tends to help prevent fungus/mold contamination. To store pupae over the winter, we recommend using a sealed tupperware container in the refrigerator with 3-4 drops of water in it. Layer in pupae in dry paper towels (1).
Adult description: This is a medium-large (45-52mm forewing length) strikingly marked moth (2). The majority of the forewings are jet black. There is gray in the leading edge radiating along the wing margin from the thorax. This area may also have a fairly white streak in the middle. The black subterminal line separates the gray outer wing margin from the remainder of the wing. Like other members of this genus, the hindwings are black and gray striped.

Larval description:
L3: At this stage, the larvae is fairly distinct and about 2.54cm (1). It is covered in white speckles, giving it a rough appearance. The thick, almost disproportionally large caudal horn is bright red and sticks straight back. The ground color of the larva is bright green. There are 7 white diagonal abdominal stripes that are bordered by purple above. The spiracles at this stage are quite distinctively red.

L5: A fairly robust large green caterpillar that looks similar to other Sphinx species. There are 7 white abdominal streaks bordered by a thick purple streak. The streaks are above the yellow-orange spiracles. The larva of this species tends to be graduated in its ground color from a darker green-blue near the legs to a much more green color on the dorsal surface. The horn is red and pointed. The head capsule has parallel dark lines on it with a lighter green-blue color in the middle.
Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
Picture
Host plants:
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The gallery to the left contains photos of Sphinx drupiferarum adults. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Sphinx drupiferarum larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Maya Shikhman
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Egg - (C) Teá Montagna
L1 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna

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Macroglossinae

Aellopos clavipes
Aellopos fadus
Aellopos tantalus
Aellopos titan
Amphion floridensis
Cautethia grotei
Callionima falcifera
Callionima parce
Darapsa choerilus
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidemia inscriptum
Enyo lugubris
Enyo ocypete
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis guttularis
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis obscura
Eumorpha achemon
Eumorpha fasciatus
Eumorpha intermedia
Eumorpha labruscae
Eumorpha pandorus
Eumorpha satellitia
Eumorpha vitis
Eumorpha typhon
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra​
Hemaris diffinis
Hemaris gracilis
Hemaris thysbe
Hyles euphorbiae
Hyles gallii
Hyles lineata
Madoryx pseudothyreus
Pachylioides resumens
Pachylia ficus
Perigonia lusca
Phryxus caicus
Proserpinus flavofasciata
Proserpinus clarkiae
Proserpinus gaurae
Proserpinus lucidus
Pseudosphinx tetrio
Sphecodina abbottii
Xylophanes falco
Xylophanes pluto
Xylophanes libya
Xylophanes porcus
Xylophanes tersa

Smerinthinae

Protambulyx strigilis
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Pachysphinx occidentalis
Paonias astylus
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis
Smerinthus astarte
Smerinthus ophthalmica

Sphinginae

Agrius cingulata
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia catalpae
Ceratomia hageni
Ceratomia undulosa
Cocytius antaeus
Cocytius duponchel
Dolba hyloeus
Isoparce cupressi
Lapara bombycoides
Lapara coniferarum
Lintneria istar
Lintneria separatus
Lintneria eremitus
Manduca jasminearum
Manduca occulta
Manduca brontes cubensis
Manduca florestan
Manduca muscosa
Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca rustica
Manduca sexta
Neococytius cluentius
Paratrea plebeja
Sphinx canadensis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx dollii
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx frankii
Sphinx gordius
Sphinx kalmiae
Sphinx leucophaeata
Sphinx luscitiosa
Sphinx pinastri
Sphinx poecila 
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  • Home
  • Sphingidae Index
    • Macroglossinae >
      • Aellopos >
        • Aellopos clavipes
        • Aellopos fadus
        • Aellopos tantalus
        • Aellopos titan
      • Amphion >
        • Amphion floridensis
      • Callionima >
        • Callionima falcifera
      • Cautethia >
        • Cautethia grotei
      • Darapsa >
        • Darapsa versicolor
        • Darapsa myron
        • Darapsa choerilus
      • Deidamia >
        • Deidamia inscriptum
      • Enyo >
        • Enyo lugubris
        • Enyo ocypete
      • Erinnyis >
        • Erinnyis alope
        • Erinnyis crameri
        • Erinnyis ello
        • Erinnyis cubensis
        • Erinnyis lassauxii
        • Erinnyis oenotrus
        • Erinnyis obscura
      • Eumorpha >
        • Eumorpha pandorus
        • Eumorpha achemon
        • Eumorpha fasciatus
        • Eumorpha satellitia
        • Eumorpha labruscae
        • Eumorpha intermedia
        • Eumorpha vitis
        • Eumorpha typhon
      • Eupyrrhoglossum >
        • Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
      • Hemaris >
        • Hemaris thysbe
        • Hemaris gracilis
        • Hemaris diffinis
        • Hemaris aethra
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        • Hyles gallii
        • Hyles euphorbiae
        • Hyles lineata
      • Madoryx >
        • Madoryx pseudothyreus
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        • Pachylioides resumens
      • Pachylia >
        • Pachylia ficus
      • Phryxus >
        • Phryxus caicus
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        • Perigonia lusca
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        • Proserpinus gaurae
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      • Pseudosphinx >
        • Pseudosphinx tetrio
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        • Xylophanes falco
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        • Xylophanes porcus
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    • Smerinthinae >
      • Amorpha >
        • Amorpha juglandis
      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
        • Pachysphinx occidentalis
      • Paonias >
        • Paonias excaecata
        • Paonias myops
        • Paonias astylus
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        • Complex: strigilis-carteri >
          • Protambulyx strigilis
          • Protambulyx carteri
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        • Cocytius duponchel
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        • Dolba hyloeus
      • Isoparce >
        • Isoparce cupressi
      • Lapara >
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        • Lapara bombycoides
      • Lintneria >
        • Lintneria eremitus
        • Lintneria istar
        • Lintneria separatus
      • Manduca >
        • Manduca brontes cubensis
        • Manduca jasminearum
        • Manduca muscosa
        • Manduca occulta
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        • Manduca sexta
      • Neococytius >
        • Neococytius cluentius
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        • Paratrea plebeja
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        • Sphinx chersis
        • Sphinx dollii
        • Sphinx drupiferarum
        • Sphinx franckii
        • Sphinx kalmiae
        • Sphinx leucophaeata
        • Sphinx luscitiosa
        • Complex: gordius-poecila >
          • Sphinx poecila
          • Sphinx gordius
      • Hyloicus >
        • Hyloicus pinastri
  • Final Instar Larva Key
  • Hostplant Index
  • Parasitoids and Predators
  • Range
  • General Information
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  • Other Resources
    • Sphingidae Publication Library
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