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
2023-06-05	Owen	Pettigrew, Laura
2022-07-28	Dubois	Devillez, Nina
2022-07-23	Brown	Pollock, Michele
2022-07-19	Monroe	Helmbold, Jessica
2022-07-06	Monroe	Engbrecht, Nate
2022-06-18	Delaware	Carlson, Jerry	Adult
2022-06-14	Monroe	Worden, Stephanie	Adult
2022-06-10	Henry	Caruthers, Daniel	Adult
2022-06-10	Henry	Caruthers, Daniel	Adult
2022-05-27	Marion	Miller, Ben	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2023-06-05 County: Owen Observer: Pettigrew, Laura Notes:
Date: 2022-07-28 County: Dubois Observer: Devillez, Nina Notes:
Date: 2022-07-23 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele Notes:
Date: 2022-07-19 County: Monroe Observer: Helmbold, Jessica Notes:
Date: 2022-07-06 County: Monroe Observer: Engbrecht, Nate Notes:
Date: 2022-06-18 County: Delaware Observer: Carlson, Jerry Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-06-14 County: Monroe Observer: Worden, Stephanie Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-06-10 County: Henry Observer: Caruthers, Daniel Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-06-10 County: Henry Observer: Caruthers, Daniel Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-05-27 County: Marion Observer: Miller, Ben Notes: Adult

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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