Siskiyou County

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: 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. Sphinx chersis USGS/DW, 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 USGS/DW, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is confirmed for Siskiyou County. I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently. Sphinx perelegans USGS/DW, 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 USGS, the Sequoiae Sphinx This species is not recorded in San Benito County. Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Sphinx vashti USGS, the Snowberry Sphinx The upperside of the forewing has a narrow black subterminal line bordered by a white inverted V-shaped line on the outside, and a black line running inwards from the apex of the wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses. 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. Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx The grey-blue eyespot of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks. The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped. Paonias myops USGS/DW, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. 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 opthalmica MPNw 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 BAMONA, 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 DW, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is recorded for Siskiyou County by David Wikle, and it should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from late May to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage. Macroglossini Tribe: Arctonotus lucidus USGS, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx This species is confirmed in Siskiyou 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 DW, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at a variety of flowers and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and probably on Hooker's Evening Primrose. Proserpinus clarkiae USGS/RS, 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 clarkiae, Ash Creek Road California, May 10, 2012, courtesy of Rob Santry