Sphinx sequoiae male, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
June 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802 Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Sphinx Linnaeus, 1758 ........... Species: sequoiae Boisduval, 1868

DISTRIBUTION:

The Sequoia Sphinx, Sphinx sequoiae, (Wing span: 1 7/8 - 2 11/16 inches (4.8 - 6.8 cm)), flies from Oregon south through California, Nevada, and southeastern Utah to Arizona, and south into northern Baja California.

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.

Visit beautiful images (recto and verso) of Sphinx sequoiae in flight, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, June 28, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Edna Woodward writes, "These are very tiny. They are only just about 1 inch = 25.4 millimeter to maybe an inch and a half from head to tail.

"Interestingly .. I put a sheet up only maybe 12-15 feet from them, and, the minute I turn on that light, they are gone. I can only catch them with the spotlight by standing there till one comes close beside me then hitting it toward the ground, and it will fly to the ground. It will be hard to get a clean one."

Sphinx sequoiae Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, June 28, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

From other reports, this species will respond to lights but only at dusk and at dawn.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Sequoia Sphinx adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at a variety of flowers, including western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa) and California buckeye (Aesculus californica).

Edna Bottorff shows them nectaring at milkweed.

Sphinx sequoiae nectaring at milkweed, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
June 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on California juniper (Juniperus californica) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. osteosperma). Edna Bottorff reports green eggs being deposited on incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in Josephine County, Oregon.

Sphinx sequoiae egg, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
June 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae hatchling, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 4, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae another hatchling, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 5, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

The emergent larva will often turn itself around and eat the remaining egg shell.

Sphinx sequoiae first instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae second instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae second instar preparing to molt, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 13, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae early third instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 16, 2009, aproximately 1/2 inch long, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae third instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 20, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae molt to fourth instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 20, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae ready to molt to fifth instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae fresh fifth instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae mature fifth instar, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
August 9, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae fresh pupa, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
August 14, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Sphinx sequoiae pupa, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
August 15, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Visit Sphinx sequoiae female from pupa above, July 28, 2010, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

James P. Tuttle reports larvae seem to prefer the new foliage.

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