Columbia County

This page is dedicated to Rodger Hallen for submission of beautiful image of Smerinthus ophthalmica, top of page.

Rodger writes, "Bill, just thought I would share this pic I took this morning in St Helens, Oregon. When I touched it, it began to dance and showed its eyespots. very nice."

Twenty-three Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Oregon. Not all of the species are reported (only two by USGS, Paonias excaecata and Hyles lineata) or anticipated in Columbia 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 Columbia County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is 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.

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 WO, 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 of which reaches the wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. Note broad, light grey area along forewing costa. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. 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. Sphinx sequoiae WO, the Sequoiae Sphinx. The dark form, occurring from Oregon to central California, has blue-gray forewings with black dashes along the middle. The pale form, in the juniper belt of the rest of the range, is very pale gray with only a faint blue tint. Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Sphinx vashti WO, generally more easterly, the Snowberry Sphinx. Snowberry Sphinx adults fly as a single brood in montane woodlands and along prairie streamcourses from April to August. 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 at the apex. 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 outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Smerinthus cerisyi RH, 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. Smerinthus ophthalmica male, St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon, July 23, 2010, courtesy of Rodger Hallen. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe Hemaris thysbe WO, unlikely, the Hummingbird Clearwing, Many gardeners mistake this moth for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through a long feeding tube. Flight is probably from late May-July and possibly again in the fall. 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. Macroglossini tribe Hyles gallii WO, generally more easterly, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Larvae feed on Epilobium angustifolium and Galium. I expect flight is late May-July with a possible fall flight as well. Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they also fly during the day over a wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens. Proserpinus clarkiae WO, 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 flavofasciata WO, the Yellow-banded Day Sphinx, Proserpinus flavofasciata adults fly from April-June in meadows in coniferous forests. Adults fly during the afternoon, nectaring from lilac, dandelion, cherry, etc.

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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.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments: Saturniidae cocoons. Cocoons of the giant silkmoths may be purchased in the fall and winter. Big and beautiful giant silk moths will emerge in spring/summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.