Gila County, Arizona

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth This moth is a very strong flier, and make its way to southern Arizona and southern California. It is not confirmed for Gila County, but might occur as a rare stray. Lintneria separatus WO, the Separated Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black and light gray wavy lines. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a brownish gray border and two white bands. edge of range Manduca florestan ER The upperside of the forewing is gray to yellowish gray to brown. The reddish brown patch just outside the cell and above the dashes is the most distinguishing character. Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS/ER, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is confirmed in Gila County, and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it. Manduca rustica WO, the Rustic Sphinx This species is not officially recorded in Gila County, but it has been taken in other nearby counties. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. rare, if present Manduca sexta ER, the Carolina Sphinx This species has been recorded in Gila County by Evan Rand. If you grow tomatoes, you may have encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sagenosoma elsa WO, the Elsa sphinx This species is not officially recorded in Gila County, but it should be present. The upperside of the forewing has a wide white band along the costa from base to apex. The remainder of the wing has black and white bands. Sphinx asellus USGS/LP, the Asella sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale silver-gray with a series of black dashes, a white patch at the tip, and a white stripe along the outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with blurry white bands. Sphinx asellus, Payson, July 24, 2009, Lauren Paterson. Sphinx chersis USGS/ER, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species is reported in Pima. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx dollii USGS/ER--common, the Doll's sphinx Sphinx dollii (Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.3 cm)), flies in arid brushlands and desert foothills from Nevada and southern California east through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to Oklahoma and Texas. Sphinx libocedrus WO, the Incense Cedar Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale blue-gray to dark gray with a black dash reaching the wing tip and a white stripe along the lower outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two diffuse white bands, the upper one being practically non-existent. edge of range Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS/ER--uncommon/LP, 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. Pachysphinx occidentalis, two, July 24, 2009, Payson, Lauren Paterson. 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. probably rare Paonias myops USGS/ER--rare, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution but is probably quite rare in Gila County. Smerinthus cerisyi USGS/ER--uncommon, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July-early August as a single brood. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, USGS The upperside of the abdomen is gray, without black bands, and the underside does not have black spots. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown, and may have pale yellow-brown patches along the inner edge. rare stray Erinnyis ello USGS, the Ello Sphinx This species is reported in Gila County and in other southern Arizona counties. Males and females differ.rare stray Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, USGS During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July and August are flight times in the southern states. rare stray 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 USGS, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is officially reported for Gila County. Eumorpha achemon larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). probably rare Eumorpha labruscae USGS, the Gaudy Sphinx The Gaudy Sphinx flies in America, and although primarily a tropical species, it has been taken as far north as Saskatchewan as a stray. Forewings are a vibrant grey-green. rare stray Eumorpha typhon USGS/ER, the Typhon Sphinx The upperside of wings is deep red-brown with pale brown bands. Each hindwing has pink along the costal margin and a triangular white spot on the outer part of the inner margin. confirmed by Evan Rand Macroglossini tribe: Hyles lineata USGS/ER-very common, the White-lined Sphinx Larvae can be quite varied.