The Sphingidae of Alaska

Hyles gallii larvae show at least two colour forms, one that is primarily black, and one that is primarily tan:

Hyles gallii fifth instar, Wasilla, Alaska,
August 13, 2012, courtesy of Julie Stotts.

Dave Helgert sends the following image, and it is first time I have seen a gallii larva without the larger white subovals that are usually so prominent dorso-laterally. You can, however, see their faint outline.

Hyles gallii fifth instar, Pt. MacKenzie, Alaska,
September 24, 2012, courtesy of Dave Helgert.

When the dots are present, they are not always white. The larva below brought a smile to my face!

Hyles gallii fifth instar, Soldotna, Alaska,
October 4, 2018, courtesy of Bryr Harris.

See the link below for an image of an Hyles gallii larva, courtesy of Kristin Beck, where the whitish sub-ovals are reddish orange.

Click on one of the Scientific names to see images and access information. N.B., the files are not linked back to this page. To return to this index, simply use your browser back button.

Special thanks goes to Ken Philip who sent me "a list (all 5 species) of the Sphingidae from Alaska in the Alaska Lepidoptera Survey collection:"

Joel Szymczyk writes, "This morning (June 30, 2004) I found what appears to be Smerinthus cerisyi. Location was: 63 19 42.884N 142 48 31.346W; Near MP 1308.5 Alaska Highway; Tok, Alaska"

Traci Campbell reports Hyles gallii larva, August 16, 2005, in Palmer, Alaska. She writes, "The one I found is a dark brown with lighter tan dots down each side and a red horn on the end."

Jim Gilbert confirms Hemaris thysbe from Fairbanks, June 24, 2011, 1:15pm.

Hemaris thysbe, Fairbanks, Alaska,
1:15 pm, June 24, 2011, courtesy of Jim Gilbert.

Please send sightings, preferably with images, to Bill Oehlke.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini Tribe: wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Smerinthini Tribe: Smerinthus cerisyi SE 1/8

Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe:m Hemaris diffinis XSE Hemaris thysbe SE 1/2 Philampelini Tribe:m Macroglossini Tribe: Hyles gallii E 3/4 Pro. flavofasciata SE 2/5 Return to Index by Nation Return to U. S. A. Table Return to Main Sphingidae Index

Thumbnail Checklist (adult moths):

Smerinthus cerisyi USGS/JS, Cerisyi's Sphinx: If you have willows and poplars nearby, you've probably got populations of the Cerisyi's Sphinx. Hindwings are quite striking. Smerinthus cerisyi, Tok, June 30, 2004, Joel Szymczyk Hemaris diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing, or Bumblebee Moth: Wings: basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases, edges. Thorax: golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments. Hemaris thysbe WO/JG, Hummingbird Clearwing: Not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake an this moth for small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through long feeding tube. Hemaris thysbe, Southcentral Alaska: Index Lake, Fairbanks vicinity, Ken Philip. Hemaris thysbe, Fairbanks, 1:15pm, June 24, 2011, Jim Gilbert Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx: Thick, cream-coloured, slightly irregular, diagonal line on forewing as well as absence of much thinner "white lines/streaks" distinguish this species from Hyles lineata. Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, Yellow-banded Day Sphinx: Fw upperside: medium to dark brown with faint to distinct white median band. Hw upperside: dark brown with wide orange median band which may not reach inner margin. Moth mimics bumblebee.

Thumbnail Checklist (larvae):

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

Hemaris thysbe final instar, Sutton Alaska,
July 15, 2019, courtesy of Emmett Summit

Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisy's Sphinx; Pale green, granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, very pale longitudinal lines running from head to more pronounced anal diagonal line. Ggreen heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow inverted V. Hemaris diffinis USGS, Snowberry Clearwing: Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn: black; yellow base. Hemaris thysbe USGS, Hummingbird Clearwing: Also an orangey-pink prepupal form. Lateral line runs from S1 to the blue horn. Viburnum and related plants. Hyles gallii WO/EMvAM/CS/DH/TH, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth Gallium Sphinx: Larvae come in black forms, with or without large white subdorsal ovals, and in brown forms and drab green forms. Epilobium (fireweed). Hyles gallii larva, Fairbanks, Alaska, August 4, 2010, courtesy of Kyle Campbell. Hyles gallii larva on Epilobium, Delta Junction, Alaska, August 8, 2005, courtesy of Danielle (Ellie) Mason via Andrea Mather. Hyles gallii larva, near Wasilla, Alaska; 61d37m north, 149d23m49s west; feeding on fireweed; September 18, 2011; Carl Seutter Hyles gallii larva, Anchorage, Alaska; 61° 8'10.09"N Latitude and 149°46'27.07"W; September 24, 2011; Joel Adams Hyles gallii fifth instar, Pt. MacKenzie, Alaska, September 24, 2012, courtesy of Dave Helgert. Hyles gallii, larva, Anchorage, Alaska, August 7, 2013, Ted Haussner. Hyles gallii, larva, Prince William Sound, Esther Island, Alaska, August 15, 2013, Kristin Beck. Hyles gallii, Shrine of St. Therese, Juneau, Alaska, August 7, 2013, Laurie Lamm. Hyles gallii, larva, Soldotna, Alaska, October 4, 2018, Bryr Harris. Hyles gallii WO/KC/JS/MK, Bedstraw Hawk Moth, Gallium Sphinx: Brown form from Fairbanks, Alaska, August 4, 2010, courtesy of Kyle Campbell. Larva pupated within one week of being photographed. My understanding is that many forms can all originate from same female. Hyles gallii fifth instar, Wasilla, Alaska, August 13, 2012, courtesy of Julie Stotts. Hyles gallii fifth instar (greenish form), Willow Matanuska, Susitna Borough, September 1, 2013, courtesy of Merry Keene. Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, Yellow-banded Day Sphinx: Larvae feed on willow weed (Epilobium) and possibly thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.