Santa Cruz County
Arizona

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, USGS, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia sonorensis, USGS/ER, Sonoran Sphinx, The fringes of the upper wings are checkered black and white. The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black bars and dashes and whitish patches. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with pale gray at the base and has two black transverse lines. Ceratomia sonorensis Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Dolbogene hartwegii, USGS/RJNIII, Hartweg's Sphinx This small moth flies at dusk. Both the forewing and the hindwing have a dark spot at the anal angle. The forewing has a dark cell marking with a white center. There is also a dark patch along the inner margin in the basal area. Dolbogene hartwegii Robert J. Nuelle, III, August 7, 2004 Lintneria istar USGS/IN/ER, the Istar Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with brown tinges. A series of narrow dashes runs from the tip to the cell spots, and a wide black band runs from the middle of the outer margin to the base of the wing. Sphinx istar Ira Nadborne, July 13, 2004, Madera Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Lintneria smithi USGS, Smith's 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. Manduca florestan USGS/RJN/ER/IN 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 florestan Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca; Evan Rand, (many), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Ira Nadborne, (8), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Manduca muscosa USGS/ER, Muscosa sphinx The upperside of the moth is soft greenish gray; the forewing has a small green to white cell spot, and the hindwing has black bands and a black patch at the base. Manduca muscosa Evan Rand, (late July); August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, (10-20), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Manduca occulta USGS/ER, Occult sphinx Manduca occulta can be differentiated from M. sexta which has 2/3 black, 1/3 white checkering on the forewing, while occulta has equal amounts of black and white checkering. Manduca occulta Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Manduca quinquemaculata USGS/ER, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is confirmed in Yavapai County, and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca quinquemaculata Evan Rand, (many), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Manduca rustica USGS/RJN/ER, the Rustic Sphinx This species is officially recorded in Yavapai County, and it has been taken in other nearby counties. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. Manduca rustica Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca; August 7, 2004, California Gulch Evan Rand, uncommon; Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, (6) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Manduca sexta USGS/ER/IN, the Carolina Sphinx This species is recorded in Yavapai County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Manduca sexta Evan Rand, Common in Santa Cruz Co. (Late July/August) Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, July 26-27, 2008 (many), Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Ira Nadborne, (15), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Sagenosoma elsa WO, the Elsa sphinx: Forewing upperside has a wide white band along the costa from base to apex. The remainder of the wing has black and white bands. The entire forewing is speckled with dark dots and has a light dusting of pale yellow to yellow-green scales. The upperside of the hindwing is white with two black bands. Sphinx asellus USGS/ER, 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 Evan Rand, (5-6), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Sphinx chersis USGS/RJN/ER, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species is reported in Yavapai. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx chersis Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Sphinx dollii USGS/RJN/IN/ER, 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 dollii Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca Ira Nadborne, (12) July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Sphinx libocedrus USGS/ER, 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. Sphinx libocedrus Evan Rand, (3), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Sphinx 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. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS/RJN/ER/IN, 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 Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca; Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, (6), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Ira Nadborne, (4), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Paonias myops USGS/IN/ER, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution. Paonias myops Ira Nadborne, (2), July 13, 2004, Madera Evan Rand (2), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Smerinthus cerisyi USGS/ER, 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 cerisyi Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca; (1), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Smerinthus saliceti USGS/ER/IN, the Salicet Sphinx, flies in valleys and along streamsides from Mexico City north to west Texas, southern Arizona, and extreme southern California. Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late April-September, probably as a double brood. Smerinthus saliceti Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Ira Nadborne, (6), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos clavipes USGS, the Aellopos Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. Wings are dark brown. The forewing has a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the pale brown marginal area. stray Aellopos titan WO, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. stray Callionima falcifera WO, This species is redder than C. parce, has more falcate wings and flies after midnight. The very similar Callionima parce is browner, slightly less falcate and flies before midnight. stray Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, WO The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line to the inside of the cell spot. possible stray Erinnyis alope, the Alope Sphinx, USGS The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear half. The upperside of the hindwing is bright yellow with a wide dark brown border. 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. Erinnyis ello USGS/ER, the Ello Sphinx: Abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Female's fw upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near outer margin. Male's fw upperside is dark gray and brown with a black band running from base to tip. Hindwing upperside is orange with wide black border. Erinnyis ello Evan Rand, (5), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Erinnyis lassauxii, Lassaux's Sphinx, USGS The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with gray streaks along the inner margin and a gray patch at the tip of the wing. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with varying amounts of dark orange at the base. 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. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. The abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before the tip. Isognathus rimosa, the Rimosus Sphinx, USGS/ER The upperside of female forewing is mostly gray brown on the front half and dark brown on the rear half while the upperside of male forewing is yellow gray or gray brown. Both sexes have wavy dark markings. The upperside of the hindwing of both sexes is yellow with an incomplete dark border on the outer margin. stray Isognathus rimosa Evan rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon USGS/ER, the Achemon Sphinx The pink basal area of the hindwing clearly distinguishes this species. Eumorpha achemon larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Eumorpha achemon Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Eumorpha fasciatus USGS, the Banded Sphinx/Lesser Vine Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. stray Eumorpha satellitia licaon WO, the Satellite Sphinx The Satellite Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha satellitia licaon flies in western Mexico and sometimes strays into southeastern Arizona. stray Eumorpha typhon USGS/ER/IN/HDK, 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. Eumorpha typhon Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Ira Nadborne, (2) July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft Harry D. King, July 26, 2004 Eumorpha vitis USGS, the Vine Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin. stray Macroglossini tribe: Hyles lineata USGS/RJN/ER, the White-lined Sphinx The white lines on the body and forewings are striking. Even in flight, the broad pink area on the hindwings is visible. Larvae can be quite varied. Hyles lineata Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca; Evan Rand, Very common Santa Cruz Cos. (March to October) Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca Evan Rand, (many) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw Proserpinus terlooii USGS/ER, the Terloo sphinx The upperside of the forewing is uniform olive green with a darker median band. The upperside of the hindwing is red with an olive green border. Proserpinus terlooii Evan Rand, mid July, 2007, Pena Blanca; (1) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon Proserpinus vega WO, the Vega sphinx Jim Tuttle writes, "P. vega has a very large and dark basal patch as the FW meets the thorax that is lacking in terlooii. There are also three prominent longitudinal stripes on the thorax of vega that are lacking in terlooii." possibility Xylophanes ceratomoides USGS, the Brown and yellow Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with dark brown markings in the basal area, and diagonally from near the apex to the center of the inner margin. There is a small dark cell spot. The outer margin is distinct, set off from the rest of the wing by a pale subterminal line. unlikely stray Xylophanes falco USGS/ER, the Falcon Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is orange-brown along the forward half, striped with dark brown and light brown along the rear half, with dark brown bands separating the two. The upperside of the hindwing is pale brown with dark brown marginal and submarginal lines. Xylophanes falco Evan Rand, uncommon in Santa Cruz Co. (late July/early August) (40) Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft, July 13, 2007, Ira Nadborne Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with a band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks. stray