Sonoma County
Sphingidae

Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for California. Not all of the species are reported by the USGS for Sonoma. The twelves species, below, are listed by the USGS for Sonoma 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 Mike Belcher (MB) of Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California.

Mike writes, April 14, 2008, "I saw a Smerinthus cerisyi on my front porch yesterday, April 13th. We live on Hutchinson Road, just south of the town of Sebastopol, California, in Sonoma county. This is about an hour north of San Francisco for a point of reference. Thought you might want to add this to your data base. Enjoyed your website."

A USGS indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Moths of Western North America, #2. Distribution of Sphingidae of Western North America, revised, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

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 quinquemaculata USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth

This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.

Manduca sexta USGS, the Carolina Sphinx

If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis USGS, 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 reaching the wing tip. Note grey thorax with narrow black lines.

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. Note dark thorax.

Sphinx sequoiae USGS, the Sequoiae Sphinx

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

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS, 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/MB, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx,

Larvae feed on poplars and willows.

Flight would be from mid April-July as a single brood.

Smerinthus cerisyi, Mike Belcher, Sebastopol, April 13, 2008

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini Tribe:

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.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon USGS, the Achemon Sphinx

This species should be present wherever grapes are found.

Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus USGS, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx

This species is confirmed in Sonoma County.
It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx

Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at salvia and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and Hooker's Evening Primrose.

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.



This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Please send sightings, preferably with images, to Bill.

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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.