Monterey; Kings; Tulare Counties
Central California

This page is dedicated to Leticia Perez who sends the Eumorpha achemon image above. Leticia writes, "Found this moth outside my door in King City California. What kind of moth is it? When I first saw it, I thought it was a dry leaf, and then I look closely and realized it was a moth."

Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS (now BAMONA) for California. Not all of the species are reported in Monterey County. Nine species are reported for Monterey by BAMONA as of August 18, 2018:
Manduca sexta; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx perelegans; Pachysphinx occidentalis; Smerinthus cerisyi; Hemaris thetis; Hyles lineata; Proserpinus clarkiae; Proserpinus lucidus.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.

A WO ?? after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Monterey, Kings or Tulare County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is or might be present.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Kings County (2): Agrius cingulata; Hyles lineata.

Tulare County (10): Sphinx perelegans; Sphinx vashti; Manduca sexta; Sphinx chersis; Smerinthus cerisyi; Erinnyis ello; Hemaris thetis; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles lineata; Proserpinus clarkiae; Proserpinus lucidus.

You can visit Sphingidae checklists for all US states, all Canadian provinces and all countries in Central and South America and in the Carribean via the links at Sphingidae Checklists.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata Kings This species has not been reported in Monterey County, but may be there as a very rare stray. The moth is a very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO ??, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Manduca sexta Monterey/Tulare, the Carolina Sphinx This species has been recorded in Monterey County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sphinx chersis Monterey/Tulare, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is soft dark-gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one reaching the wing tip. Note grey thorax with narrow black lines. Sphinx perelegans Monterey/Tulare, the Elegant Sphinx Sphinx perelegans adults fly in montane woodlands and mixed chaparral-type vegetation as a single brood in the north, with adults mainly on the wing in June and July. It flies from dusk until after midnight. Note dark thorax. Sphinx sequoiae WO ?? Questionable, the Sequoiae Sphinx This species is not recorded in Monterey County, but it might be present. Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis Monterey, 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. Smerinthus cerisyi Monterey/Tulare, 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. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Erinnyis ello, the Ello Sphinx, Tulare The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Adults nectar at dusk so you may see them in the garden at that time. Hemaris thetis Monterey/Tulare, 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. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon LT/Monterey/Tulare, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is recorded for Monterey County by Leticia Perez, andit should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage. Macroglossini Tribe: Euproserpinus euterpe, the Euterpe Sphinx, WO ?? see below Euproserpinus euterpe adults fly in pastures and fallow fields as a single brood from late January-February-April. They nectar at flowers of filaree (Erodium) and Nemophila during the warm parts of the day. This species is listed as "threatened" in its known range. Euproserpinus phaeton, the Phaeton Primrose Sphinx, WO ?? Adults nectar at flowers during the warm parts of the day. Euproserpinus phaeton adults fly swiftly and close to the ground over dry washes and flat areas in deserts as a single brood from February-April. Hyles lineata Monterey/Kings/Tulare, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at salvia and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and Hooker's Evening Primrose in LA county. Proserpinus clarkiae Monterey/Tulare, Clark's Sphinx, Adults fly in the afternoon from April-June in oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills, nectaring from chia, heartleaf milkweed, golden currant, bluedicks, fairyfans, vetches, thistles, hedgenettles, etc. Proserpinus lucidus Monterey/Tulare, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx This species is confirmed in Monterey County. It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

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