372 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
nests to feed and are rather voracious feeders. Pupation takes place 
in a loose cocoon spun among the leaves, usually on the ground. 
Famity SPHINGIDAE 
The sphinx moths, or hawk moths, as they are commonly known, are 
moderate sized to very large and are strong flyers. Most species of this 
family fly during the night, although some are active duri ing the day - 
or in twilight, and these 1 may often ‘be seen hoveri Ing over flowers and 
extracting the nectar while on the wing, holding themselves in position 
by a rapid motion of the wings. The moths of this family are easily 
recognized by their elongate, strong forewings with very oblique outer 
margin, the stout spindle-shaped body, and the antennae more or less 
thickened toward or beyond the middle and usually pointed at the 
apex. The proboscis is usually very long and when not in use is coiled 
hike a watch spring. The larvae are cylindrical, and smooth or with 
a granulated skin, and naked. The eighth abdominal segment bears 
a prominent horn or eyelike tubercle, and many species have the ab- 
domen marked with oblique stripes. When at rest these insects gen- 
erally cling to the twig or foliage by their abdominal legs and hold the 
front part ‘of the body aloft. Pupation usually takes place in a cell in 
the ground. 
Although many species inhabit the eastern part of the United States, 
few ever become abundant enough in the forest or on shade trees and 
ornamentals to necessitate artificial control. The larval descriptions, 
food plants, and life histories are given for some of the more common 
and injurious species. 
The larva of Ceratomia amyntor (Hbn.) varies from pale green to 
reddish brown. The body is marked on each side with seven oblique 
stripes of whitish granulations, each stripe extending from the lower 
part of one segment backward across another and reaching the third 
near the top, the last stripe extending to the caudal horn. On each of 
the second and third thoracic segments is a pair of tuberculated horns, 
and a strong caudal horn arises from the eighth abdominal segment. 
The full-grown larva is about 3 inches in length Gates (OL 2 ans 
species 1s distributed through the Atlantic States and west to the Mis- 
sissippl Valley. Its larvae feed on basswood, birch, and elm. The 
moths emerge in June and July, the larvae may be found from July to 
early October, pupation takes place in the soil, and the winter is passed 
in the pupal stage 
The larva of Ceratomia undulosa (Wlkr.) has a bluish-green head 
marked by a broad pale band; the body, tapering toward the head, is 
pea green and marked by seven oblique light yellow stripes on each 
side, the last extending to the base of the caudal horn. The spiracles 
are orange, the caudal horn is reddish and curved downward at the tip, 
and the anal plate and anal legs are dotted with elevated black points. 
The thoracic legs are green or ‘reddish. The full-grown larva is about 
21/, inches in length (fie. 71,7). This species occurs in eastern Canada 
and Maine, south to the Carolinas, and west into the Mississippi Val- 
ley. ‘The larvae feed on white ash and lilac. The moths emerge from 
late in May to July, the larvae may be found from June to October 
depending on the locality, and the winter is passed in the pupal stage 
in the soil. 
