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
2021-05-18	Jefferson	Holbrook, Brenda	Adult
2021-05-14	Jefferson	Holbrook, Brenda	Adult
2021-05-14	Jefferson	Holbrook, Brenda	Adult
2021-05-14	Jefferson	Holbrook, Brenda	Adult
2021-05-14	Jefferson	Holbrook, Brenda	Adult
2021-05-03	Brown	Pollock, Michele	Adult
2020-08-27	Johnson	Jablonski, Barbara	Caterpillar
2020-08-27	Johnson	Jablonski, Barbara	Caterpillar
2020-08-15	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2020-08-08	Brown	Byers, Ronda	Adult

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2021-05-18 County: Jefferson Observer: Holbrook, Brenda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-14 County: Jefferson Observer: Holbrook, Brenda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-14 County: Jefferson Observer: Holbrook, Brenda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-14 County: Jefferson Observer: Holbrook, Brenda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-14 County: Jefferson Observer: Holbrook, Brenda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-03 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-08-27 County: Johnson Observer: Jablonski, Barbara Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2020-08-27 County: Johnson Observer: Jablonski, Barbara Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2020-08-15 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-08-08 County: Brown Observer: Byers, Ronda Notes: Adult

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