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Adult with darker coloration — St. Joseph County (Mark Blassage)
Adult with lighter coloration — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult resting on the hand of man for size — Orange County (John Lindsey)
Side view of an adult — Hendricks County (Tina Price)
Close up of the antennae and head — St. Joseph County (Mark Blassage)
Caterpillar full view — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Head and six true leg view — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Close up view of caterpillar's granules, sphricals, and caudal — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Buried pupa — Lake County (Rick Welton)
An Indiana Native

Amorpha juglandis — Walnut Sphinx

(J. E. Smith, 1797)

juglandis Species Amorpha Genus Mimatini Tribe Smerinthinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
juglandis Species Amorpha Genus Mimatini Tribe Smerinthinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7827

Etymology

Amorpha: Greek word meaning “shapeless” or “deformed;” likely refering to the odd position of moth's wing while at rest.

Juglandis: Pertaining to Juglandaceae, a family of trees that contains some of the host plants for the species.

Pronunciation

Ah-MOR-fuh Joo-GLAN-diss

Adult with darker coloration — St. Joseph County (Mark Blassage)
Adult with lighter coloration — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult resting on the hand of man for size — Orange County (John Lindsey)
Side view of an adult — Hendricks County (Tina Price)
Close up of the antennae and head — St. Joseph County (Mark Blassage)
Caterpillar full view — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Head and six true leg view — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Close up view of caterpillar's granules, sphricals, and caudal — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Buried pupa — Lake County (Rick Welton)

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the verified sightings of the White-lined Sphinx moth in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

species present icon GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date County Observer Notes Image1 Image2
2024-07-27 Brown Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-06-27 Porter McLendon, Theresa
2024-06-20 Ripley Terrill, Mike
2024-06-20 Ripley Terrill, Mike
2024-05-18 Johnson Jablonski, Barbara
2024-05-17 Posey Wintczak, Tom
2024-05-17 Posey Wintczak, Tom
2024-05-17 Posey Wintczak, Tom
2023-08-01 Spencer Grierson, Steve
2023-07-30 Jennings Johnson, Stefan
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Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-07-27
County: Brown
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-27
County: Porter
Observer: McLendon, Theresa
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-20
County: Ripley
Observer: Terrill, Mike
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-20
County: Ripley
Observer: Terrill, Mike
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-18
County: Johnson
Observer: Jablonski, Barbara
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-17
County: Posey
Observer: Wintczak, Tom
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-17
County: Posey
Observer: Wintczak, Tom
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-17
County: Posey
Observer: Wintczak, Tom
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-01
County: Spencer
Observer: Grierson, Steve
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-30
County: Jennings
Observer: Johnson, Stefan
Notes:
1   2   3   4   5       Next

Amorpha juglandis Sightings by Month

Notes

The Walnut Sphinx caterpillar makes a whistling noise when distrubed and will thrash back and forth defensively.

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

Walnut Sphinx caterpillars host on a variety of trees within the Order Fagales, including Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), and White Walnut aka Butternut (Juglans cinerea). Adults do not feed.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Fagales
BetulaceaeAlnus spp.alders
Betula spp.birches
Carpinus carolinianamusclewood, aka blue beech
Corylus americanaAmerican hazelnut
Ostrya virginianahop-hornbeam, aka ironwood
FagaceaeFagus grandifoliaAmerican beech
JuglandaceaeCarya spp.hickories
Juglans spp.black walnut and butternut