Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members:
Eumorpha Members:
17 NC Records

Eumorpha achemon (Drury, 1773) - Achemon Sphinx

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: MacroglossinaeTribe: MacroglossiniP3 Number: 890184.00 MONA Number: 7861.00
Comments: This is largely a Neotropical genus but 12 species are recorded from the U.S. and 5 from North Carolina.
Species Status: Bar codes indicate that Eumorpha achemon is a single species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005; described but not illustrated); Tuttle (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately large sphinx moth strongly marked with light and dark brown patches on its forewings and body. The pinkish hindwings with a squarish black blotch medially on the forewing anal edge are characteristic. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 8.7 - 9.6 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of Eumorpha pandorus but the lateral spots are more elongated and slightly divided and bead-like (Forbes, 1948). Wagner (2005) adds that the body is peppered with dark brown spots. Pupation occurs underground.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The species is known from two counties in the middle of the state but we have seen no specimens or photographs; sight records for both larvae and adults exist for several sites along the coast. Its primary range is north of us and the species is regarded as uncommon to rare this far south.
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)

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