Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Ceratomia Members:	66 NC Records

Ceratomia amyntor (Geyer, 1835) - Elm Sphinx

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Sphinginae

Tribe:
Sphingini

P3 Number:
890102

MONA Number:
7786.00

Other Common Name:
Four-horned Sphinx

Comments: Six species of this genus occur in the US with a few more in the Neotropics. The genus appears to be an assemblage of several unrecognized genera and our three species eventually will probably all be placed in separate genera. C. amyntor is the largest species.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: Large, brown and with a white reniform spot and dark streaks, this is the most distinct and least common species in this genus. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 8.8 - 11.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are very distinctive, colored green or brown with horns on the thorax and covered with white-tipped granules that also run along the pale lateral lines, tail, and mid-dorsal plates (Wagner, 2005). Pupation occurs underground.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Most of our records come from the Mountains, but there are at least a few records as far east as Wake County.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Possibly just one generation in the Mountains; not enough data from the rest of the state to determine a pattern.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records come from rich cove forests or basic mesic forests, habitats favored by elms and basswoods. Should be looked for along rich riparian habitats in the Piedmont and along brownwater river floodplains in the Coastal Plain.

Larval Host Plants: Elms (Ulmus spp.) appear to be the favored foodplant but there are records from basswood (Tilia) and birch (Betula) as well (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). Look for larvae on the undersides of leaves on plants growing along forest edges. In North Carolina, our only feeding record is for River Birch (Betula nigra). Accurate identification of larval foodplants based on field searches are needed. - View

Observation Methods: Most individuals we have seen responded to mercury vapor or large ultraviolet spotlights. Searching for larvae is tedious, particularly with larger trees, but may be productive (see Wagner, 2005 for advice with finding this species).

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Dry Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

Comments: Like many sphingids, records are few, probably because adults rarely come to smaller lights. Dutch elm disease has probably affected its distribution somewhat, but otherwise habitat and host plants do not appear to be restrictive.

Photo Gallery for Ceratomia amyntor - Elm Sphinx

55 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2025-07-24 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2025-07-24 Johnston Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-10 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-02 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-20 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tim Foley on 2024-05-24 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Caleb Garner on 2024-05-01 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-08-11 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-07-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-07-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2023-07-15 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-07-01 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-06-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: A.Shaffer on 2023-06-09 Surry Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-25 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-25 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-14 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-12 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-20 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16 Jackson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-31 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-06 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-28 Graham Co. Comment: