Created/dedicated as per personal comunication with K.L., May 12, 2018
Updated as per Butterflies and Moths of North America formerly USGS, May 12, 2018
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, May 12, 2018

Santa Cruz County
Sphingidae

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California,
May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

This page is dedicated to K.L. (KL) of Santa Cruz County, California. K.L. sent me the images of the Smerinthus ophthalmica male depicted above and below.

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California,
May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.
The identification of the moths above is difficult due to great similarity between Smerinthus cerisyi and Smerinthus ophthalmica. To me there is more consistancy with ophthalmica characters than with cerisyi characters. See description below.

Thirty-three Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS (now BAMONA) for California. Not all of the species are reported by the USGS for Santa Cruz. (Seven species: Manduca quinquemaculata; Manduca sexta; Sphinx chersis; Smerinthus cerisyi; Proserpinus lucidus; Hyles lineata; and Proserpinus clarkiae are listed by the USGS for Santa Cruz County.)
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 San Mateo County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.
A USGS indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Moths of Western North America, #2. Distribution of Sphingidae of Western North America, revised, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.
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.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is recorded in San Mateo County.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 drupiferarum WO, questionable, generally more northerly in CA, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx perelegans WO, 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, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 opthalmica KL
Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.
Smerinthus opthalmica, Boulder Creek, May 11, 2018, K.L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

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.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth is not recorded for San Mateo County, but it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is not confirmed in San Mateo County.
It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata BAMONA/TB, 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 BAMONA, 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.

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Santa Cruz County Sphingidae

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California, May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California, May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Carolina Sphinx This species is recorded in San Mateo County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 drupiferarum WO, questionable, generally more northerly in CA, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx perelegans WO, 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, the Sequoiae Sphinx Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 opthalmica KL Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

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.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not recorded for San Mateo County, but it should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear SphinxThis species is not confirmed in San Mateo County. It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata BAMONA/TB, 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 BAMONA, 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.

Santa Cruz County
Sphingidae

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California,
May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Smerinthus ophthalmica male, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, California,
May 11, 2018, courtesy of K. L., tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is recorded in San Mateo County.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 drupiferarum WO, questionable, generally more northerly in CA, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx perelegans WO, 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, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 opthalmica KL
Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

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.

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth is not recorded for San Mateo County, but it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is not confirmed in San Mateo County.
It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata BAMONA/TB, 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 BAMONA, 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.