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Brown adult — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Greenish-colored adult — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Side view of an adult — Johnson County (Sandye Mueller)
Adult resting on hand for size — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Close up view of the antennae — Johnson County (Sandye Mueller)
Early instar caterpillar — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Caterpillar — Monroe County (Stephanie Worden)
Later instar caterpillar — Clay County (Amber Mattox)
An Indiana Native

Ceratomia undulosa — Waved Sphinx

(Walker, 1856)

undulosa Species Ceratomia Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
undulosa Species Ceratomia Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7787

Etymology

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

Undulosa: Combines the Latin word unda meaning “wave” and osa meaning “pertaining to.” This is likely in reference to the wavy look of this moth.

Pronunciation

Seer-a-TOHM-ee-uh UN-dyu-LOS-uh

Brown adult — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Greenish-colored adult — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Side view of an adult — Johnson County (Sandye Mueller)
Adult resting on hand for size — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Close up view of the antennae — Johnson County (Sandye Mueller)
Early instar caterpillar — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Caterpillar — Monroe County (Stephanie Worden)
Later instar caterpillar — Clay County (Amber Mattox)

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Waved Sphinx 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
2024-05-25 Newton Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-05-23 Johnson Kohal-Adams, Kim
2024-05-23 Johnson Kohal-Adams, Kim
2024-05-23 Johnson Kohal-Adams, Kim
2023-08-16 Washington Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-08-16 Washington Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-06-10 Brown Pollock, Michele
2023-06-07 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-06-05 Allen Pettigrew, Laura
2022-09-12 Hamilton McCord, Dan
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Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-05-25
County: Newton
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-23
County: Johnson
Observer: Kohal-Adams, Kim
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-23
County: Johnson
Observer: Kohal-Adams, Kim
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-23
County: Johnson
Observer: Kohal-Adams, Kim
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-16
County: Washington
Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-16
County: Washington
Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna
Notes:
Date: 2023-06-10
County: Brown
Observer: Pollock, Michele
Notes:
Date: 2023-06-07
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-06-05
County: Allen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2022-09-12
County: Hamilton
Observer: McCord, Dan
Notes:
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Ceratomia undulosa Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

The Waved Sphinx caterpillars host on a small variety of trees, but specifically prefer members of Olive (Oleaceae) family which includes Ashes and Lilacs in Indiana. Adult moths mostly like do not feed.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Fabales
FabaceaeRobinia spp.locusts
Order: Fagales
FagaceaeQuercus spp.oaks
Order: Lamiales
BignoniaceaeCampsis radicanstrumpetcreeper
OleaceaeChionanthus virginicusfringetree
Fraxinus spp.ashes
Ligustrum spp.privets
Syringa spp.lilacs
Order: Rosales
RosaceaeCrataegus spp.hawthorns