Klamath County

Twenty-three Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Oregon. Not all of the species are reported (nine by USGS) or anticipated in Klamath County.

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

This page is dedicated to Ruth Ann Patton who sent me the images of Arctonotus lucidus at the top and bottom of this page. Ruth Ann writes (March 15, 2007), "We have had three of these moths show up at our home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the past few days. We had never seen one of these at our place and have lived here over 30 years. The newspaper here finally was able to identify the species and so, when I checked your internet page, I also found the exact one. I would like to send you my photos, they are enlarged and taken with my innexpensive digital camera but very colorful. Thank you for your internet information, now I will know where to look."

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Klamath 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 perelegans USGS, 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 This species is not reported in Klamath but is reported to the north, south and west. Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Sphinx vashti USGS, 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: Paonias excaecata WO, 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. Paonias myops USGS, 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. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This large poplar/willow feeder is probably rare in Jackson County, near the southern most limit of its western range. They are a heavy bodied species. 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 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: Erinnyis ello USGS, the Ello Sphinx This species is reported in Klamath where it makes an appearance as a very rare stray. Unlikely! Males and females differ. Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee 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: Arctonotus lucidus USGS/RAP, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx This species is confirmed in Klamath County. It tends to be an early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night. Arctonotus lucidus: Klamath Falls, March 13-15, 2007, Ruth Ann Patton 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 USGS, 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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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.

Arctonotus lucidus, Klamath Falls, Oregon, March 13, 2007, courtesy of Ruth Ann Patton.