Follow an Entomologist through her field adventures (and work). In this blog you'll find a lot of facts, stories, and finds containing insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and lots lots more. You'll also get to see some of my moth research. I'll be happy to ID insects for you (or try too!) feel free to either tag me, or use the submit button.
This is Ceratomia amyntor, the Four Horned or Elm Sphinx. This particular specimen was a county record for Suffolk Co., MA, being found in Boston proper. I always enjoy getting county record Sphingidae, particularly ones in my home-county, or other large urban areas. A project I’ve been working on this year, and hope to continue into the future is Urban Sphingidae Diversity. I’m mapping Sphingidae diversity and abundance on an urban to rural gradient to see if there’s differences in abdunance or diversity. It’s an interesting project with some really neat results so far.
#Ceratomia #Ceratomiaamyntor #ElmSphinx #FourHornedSphinx #Sphingidae #Lepidoptera #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Entomology #Caterpillar #Larva #SphinxLarva #MothLarva #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmondays #insects_of_our_world https://www.instagram.com/p/B3adABJg_D1/?igshid=lucu2ce3udlv
Paonias astylus, The Huckleberry Sphinx. I know I’ve posted this caterpillar and adult before, but I found so many this year it’s hard not to post them! This is a marvelous green form larva that was sent to me from NJ. If you’re willing to help collect caterpillars for my thesis, send me a PM! I’m always looking for Sphingidae within the USA!
#Sphingidae #Paonias #Paoniasastylus #HuckleberrySphinx #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Thesis #Project #GradSchool #GradWork #Caterpillars #Insect #Bug #Caterpillar #Nature https://www.instagram.com/p/B3XVVdngdrg/?igshid=10vc1xkzj5gx9
Paonias excaecata or the Blinded Sphinx is a really cool looking caterpillar. While some forms are rather plain, others are speckled or splotched with brown or red. This is also the only Sphingidae species I have ever found eating Oak (Quercus). The individual pictured here is from Cape Cod on an Army Base. From July onward (in the Northeast), you can find this caterpillar out in the wild, they like many, many types of plants, and flouresce really well under UV light. They become extremely common later in the season, and often are one of the last sphingid caterpillars you can find each year. The adults are very pretty, with bright pink hindwings and a beautiful mottled brown forewing.
This Amorpha juglandis from Texas is blue! Also known as the Walnut Sphinx, these larvae are usually green, or rarely yellow and pink, but I haven’t seen blue before! This very rough looking larva will hiss and squeak at you when it feels disturbed. Since I’m working on color morphs for my thesis work, this was a really cool caterpillar to get in the mail. I am really excited to start fully running some experiments next summer, I’ll be sure to post photos and preliminary results as I go :) #Amorpha #Amorphajuglandis #WalnutSphinx #Texas #Insects #Bug #Sphingidae #Lepidoptera #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Entomology #Caterpillar #Larva #SphinxLarva #MothLarva #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmondays #insects_of_our_world https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SUZ-agQ4M/?igshid=1m4xh6qy0ld69
I’m very excited that my bun, Flopsy, is staying with me in my lab for a few weeks. He is usually at my parent’s house, but they’re on vacation, so he gets to stay with me! Flopsy has been with me for 7 years now, he was a rescue from a pet store I worked at. He loves apples and wheat grass as well as running around and trying to trip people as they work. I know he’s not a bug, but he’s too cute to not post a picture of!
This regal looking fellow is Manduca jasminearum, The Ash Sphinx. There is also a Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), but personally, I think this guy is better. Anyways, that’s why I don’t like common names. The end. I’m joking, not about the common names though. Anyways, Manduca jasminearum is found throughout the Northeast, and has recently been making a comeback in New England. The absolutely splendid adult is charcoal gray with black smudges. I really enjoyed taking photos of this cooperative caterpillar, and I’m excited for the (hopefully) equally cooperative adult. Stay tuned!
Sorry I haven’t posted much lately. Grad school is busy! I hope you accept this gorgeous male Eumorpha fasciatus as consolation. This moth is sometimes known as the Banded Sphinx or Lesser Vine Sphinx. I think it should be called the “hmm it’s kinda boring OH LOOK AT THE HINDWINGS Sphinx” but perhaps that’s too long of a name? Thoughts?
