Ceratomia hageni — Hagen's Sphinx

(​Grote, 1874)

Hodges# 7790

Etymology

Ceratomia: Combines the Greek words cero meaning “horn” and tomia meaning “to cut.”

Hageni: Named for Hermann August Hagen, a German entomologist who emigrated to the US in 1867 to teach at Harvard. In 1870, he was made Professor of Entomology of that institution, which gave him the distinction of being the first entomology professor of foreign birth at an American university.

Pronunciation

Seer-a-TOHM-ee-uh HEY-gun-eye

Other Common Names

Osage Orange Sphinx

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Hagen's Sphinx 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 Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2024-06-22	Porter	Joll, Chris
2024-06-22	Porter	Joll, Chris
2024-06-22	Porter	Joll, Chris
2024-06-13	Porter	Joll, Chris
2023-07-25	Jefferson	Wilson, Brian
2023-07-25	Jefferson	Wilson, Brian
2023-07-25	Jefferson	Wilson, Brian
2023-07-25	Jefferson	Wilson, Brian
2022-06-17	Jasper	Jaskula, Jeanette	Adult
2021-08-03	Switzerland	Lowry, Kelsie	Adult

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2024-06-22 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes:
Date: 2024-06-22 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes:
Date: 2024-06-22 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes:
Date: 2024-06-13 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25 County: Jefferson Observer: Wilson, Brian Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25 County: Jefferson Observer: Wilson, Brian Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25 County: Jefferson Observer: Wilson, Brian Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25 County: Jefferson Observer: Wilson, Brian Notes:
Date: 2022-06-17 County: Jasper Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-03 County: Switzerland Observer: Lowry, Kelsie Notes: Adult

Ceratomia hageni Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

• Global status: G4 (Apparently secure)
• National status: N4 (Apparently secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Hagen's Sphinx caterpillars are extreme specialists who are only known to feed from one plant species, which is Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera). Because Osage Orange is not native to Indiana (originally from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas), it is presumed that the Hagen's Sphinx moth is also exotic to the state and travelled here along with Osage Orange, which were widely planted by settlers to the state.

Adults nectar from flowers.

Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Rosales
Moraceae	Maclura pomifera	osage orange