Walnut Sphinx

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)

An Indiana Native

Amorpha juglandis — Walnut Sphinx

(J. E. Smith, 1797)

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

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).

GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes
2019-05-30	Vigo	Padan, Nancy	Adult
2019-05-29	Huntington	Schwartz, Andrea	Adult
2019-05-27	Marion	Strathmann, Jimmy	Adult
2019-05-27	Brown	Pollock, Michele	Adult
2019-05-25	St. Joseph	Sass, Steve	Adult
2019-05-09	Montgomery	Taylor, Michael	Adult
2019-05-09	Bartholomew	Wallace, Linda	Adult
2019-05-01	Ohio	Miller, Velda	Adult
2018-09-22	Morgan	Robbins, Julie	Caterpillar
2018-09-19	Lake	Welton, Rick	Pupa

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2019-05-30 County: Vigo Observer: Padan, Nancy Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-29 County: Huntington Observer: Schwartz, Andrea Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-27 County: Marion Observer: Strathmann, Jimmy Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-27 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-25 County: St. Joseph Observer: Sass, Steve Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-09 County: Montgomery Observer: Taylor, Michael Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-09 County: Bartholomew Observer: Wallace, Linda Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-05-01 County: Ohio Observer: Miller, Velda Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-09-22 County: Morgan Observer: Robbins, Julie Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2018-09-19 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes: Pupa

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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

Global status: G5 (secure)
National status: N5 (secure)
Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

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.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Fagales
Betulaceae	Alnus spp.	alders
	Betula spp.	birches
	Carpinus caroliniana	musclewood, aka blue beech
	Corylus americana	American hazelnut
	Ostrya virginiana	hop-hornbeam, aka ironwood
Fagaceae	Fagus grandifolia	American beech
Juglandaceae	Carya spp.	hickories
	Juglans spp.	black walnut and butternut