Ceratomia undulosa — Waved Sphinx

(Walker, 1856)

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

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).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2018-05-20	Owen	Malad, Rick	Adult
2018-05-16	Marion	Helmbold, Jessica	Adult
2018-05-09	Monroe	Dainko, Sadie	Adult
2017-04-25	Fountain	Frazier, Carla	Adult
2014-08-17	Porter	Joll, Chris	Caterpillar

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2018-05-20 County: Owen Observer: Malad, Rick Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-05-16 County: Marion Observer: Helmbold, Jessica Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-05-09 County: Monroe Observer: Dainko, Sadie Notes: Adult
Date: 2017-04-25 County: Fountain Observer: Frazier, Carla Notes: Adult
Date: 2014-08-17 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes: Caterpillar

Ceratomia undulosa Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

• Global status: G5 (secure)

Reasons: “This seems to be by a substantial margin the most common of the North American ash-feeding Sphinginae, and it is among those that can persist on urban street trees. However, as with all of the ash-feeding Sphinginae this rank does not account for possible impacts of the emerald Ash Borer and reflects merely current status as of about 2011. Unless that pest is controlled this will be among the several Sphinginae that will be drastically reduced and may be at risk of extinction by the mid 2000s.”

• National status: N5 (secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

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
Fabaceae	Robinia spp.	locusts
Order: Fagales
Fagaceae	Quercus spp.	oaks
Order: Lamiales
Bignoniaceae	Campsis radicans	trumpetcreeper
Oleaceae	Chionanthus virginicus	fringetree
	Fraxinus spp.	ashes
	Ligustrum spp.	privets
	Syringa spp.	lilacs
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Crataegus spp.	hawthorns