Cochise County and Nearby Counties: Graham; Greenler
Arizona

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Sherri C. Nelson for her abiding interest in lepidoptera.

Fifty-three Sphingidae species are listed for Arizona on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Cochise County (thirty-three are reported on U.S.G.S.). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the caterpillars you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present, although unreported.

Many thanks to Jean Haxaire for additional image submissions.

Sagenosema elsa.

Although this page was originally created to cover Cochise County, it is also representative of Graham and Greenler counties.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, USGS, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor USGS, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is brown with dark brown and white markings including a white costal area near the wing base, dark streaks along the veins, and a white spot in the cell. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia sonorensis, USGS, Sonoran Sphinx, The fringes of the upper wings are checkered black and white. The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black bars and dashes and whitish patches. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with pale gray at the base and has two black transverse lines. Dolbogene hartwegii, WO, Hartweg's Sphinx This small moth flies at dusk. Both the forewing and the hindwing have a dark spot at the anal angle. The forewing has a dark cell marking with a white center. There is also a dark patch along the inner margin in the basal area. Lintneria istar USGS, the Istar Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with brown tinges. A series of narrow dashes runs from the tip to the cell spots, and a wide black band runs from the middle of the outer margin to the base of the wing. Linternia istar - 1, Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, 24 July 2010, courtesy of Evan Rand Linternia istar - 1, Long Park, Chiricahua Mountains, 3 July 2010, elevation 9300', courtesy of Evan Rand Lintneria separatus USGS, the Separated Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black and light gray wavy lines. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a brownish gray border and two white bands. Manduca florestan USGS The upperside of the forewing is gray to yellowish gray to brown. The reddish brown patch just outside the cell and above the dashes is the most distinguishing character. Manduca muscosa USGS, Muscosa sphinx The upperside of the moth is soft greenish gray; the forewing has a small green to white cell spot, and the hindwing has black bands and a black patch at the base. Manduca occulta USGS, Occult sphinx Manduca occulta can be differentiated from M. sexta which has 2/3 black, 1/3 white checkering on the forewing, while occulta has equal amounts of black and white checkering. Manduca quinquemaculata USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is confirmed in Yavapai County, and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca rustica USGS, the Rustic Sphinx This species is officially recorded in Yavapai County, and it has been taken in other nearby counties. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. Manduca sexta USGS, the Carolina Sphinx This species is recorded in Yavapai County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sagenosoma elsa USGS, the Elsa sphinx: Forewing upperside has a wide white band along the costa from base to apex. The remainder of the wing has black and white bands. The entire forewing is speckled with dark dots and has a light dusting of pale yellow to yellow-green scales. The upperside of the hindwing is white with two black bands. Sagenosoma elsa - 1, Kansas Settlement Road at Willcox Playa, 27 July 2010, Evan Rand Sphinx asellus USGS, the Asella sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale silver-gray with a series of black dashes, a white patch at the tip, and a white stripe along the outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with blurry white bands. Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species is reported in Yavapai. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx dollii USGS, the Doll's sphinx Sphinx dollii (Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.3 cm)), flies in arid brushlands and desert foothills from Nevada and southern California east through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to Oklahoma and Texas. Sphinx libocedrus USGS, the Incense Cedar Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale blue-gray to dark gray with a black dash reaching the wing tip and a white stripe along the lower outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two diffuse white bands, the upper one being practically non-existent. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS, the Big Poplar Sphinx This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. Moths should be on the wing from June-August. Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution. Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Smerinthus saliceti USGS, the Salicet Sphinx, flies in valleys and along streamsides from Mexico City north to west Texas, southern Arizona, and extreme southern California. Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late April-September, probably as a double brood. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos clavipes WO, the Aellopos Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. Wings are dark brown. The forewing has a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the pale brown marginal area. possible stray Aellopos titan WO, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. possible stray Callionima falcifera WO, This species is redder than C. parce, has more falcate wings and flies after midnight. The very similar Callionima parce is browner, slightly less falcate and flies before midnight. possible stray Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, WO The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line to the inside of the cell spot. possible stray Erinnyis alope, the Alope Sphinx, USGS The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear half. The upperside of the hindwing is bright yellow with a wide dark brown border. possible stray Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, USGS The upperside of the abdomen is gray, without black bands, and the underside does not have black spots. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown, and may have pale yellow-brown patches along the inner edge. Erinnyis ello USGS, the Ello Sphinx: Abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Female's fw upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near outer margin. Male's fw upperside is dark gray and brown with a black band running from base to tip. Hindwing upperside is orange with wide black border. Erinnyis lassauxii, Lassaux's Sphinx, WO The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with gray streaks along the inner margin and a gray patch at the tip of the wing. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with varying amounts of dark orange at the base. possible stray Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, USGS During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July and August are flight times in the southern states. Hemaris thetis WO, the Thetis Clearwing or Bee Hawk Moth, The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Isognathus rimosa, the Rimosus Sphinx, USGS The upperside of female forewing is mostly gray brown on the front half and dark brown on the rear half while the upperside of male forewing is yellow gray or gray brown. Both sexes have wavy dark markings. The upperside of the hindwing of both sexes is yellow with an incomplete dark border on the outer margin. stray Pachylia ficus, the Fig Sphinx, USGS. The upperside of the forewing is orangish brown with a paler patch along the costa at the tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange to orangish brown with a black outer border, a black median band, and a white spot on the outer margin near the body. stray Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha elisa BW, the Elisa Sphinx Bruce Walsh reports a sighting on August 26, 2010, at MS lights, along the Foothills Road, just north of Portal (on the plains just east of the Chirichahua Mts.), Cochise County, Arizona. Id has been confirmed by Ian Kitching. This is probably a wind assisted stray form much further south. Eumorpha fasciatus USGS, the Banded Sphinx/Lesser Vine Sphinx. The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. possible stray Eumorpha satellitia licaon USGS, the Satellite Sphinx The Satellite Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha satellitia licaon flies in western Mexico and sometimes strays into southeastern Arizona. stray Eumorpha typhon USGS, the Typhon Sphinx The upperside of wings is deep red-brown with pale brown bands. Each hindwing has pink along the costal margin and a triangular white spot on the outer part of the inner margin. Eumorpha vitis WO, the Vine Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin. possible stray Macroglossini tribe: Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx The white lines on the body and forewings are striking. Even in flight, the broad pink area on the hindwings is visible. Larvae can be quite varied. Proserpinus terlooii USGS, the Terloo sphinx The upperside of the forewing is uniform olive green with a darker median band. The upperside of the hindwing is red with an olive green border. Proserpinus vega WO, the Vega sphinx Jim Tuttle writes, "P. vega has a very large and dark basal patch as the FW meets the thorax that is lacking in terlooii. There are also three prominent longitudinal stripes on the thorax of vega that are lacking in terlooii." possibility Xylophanes ceratomoides WO, the Brown and yellow Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with dark brown markings in the basal area, and diagonally from near the apex to the center of the inner margin. There is a small dark cell spot. The outer margin is distinct, set off from the rest of the wing by a pale subterminal line. unlikely stray Xylophanes falco USGS, the Falcon Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is orange-brown along the forward half, striped with dark brown and light brown along the rear half, with dark brown bands separating the two. The upperside of the hindwing is pale brown with dark brown marginal and submarginal lines. Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with a band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks. possible stray

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