Ventura County

Sphingidae

Sphinx perelegans *, August 1, 2004, courtesy of Mary Shepherd,

This page, inspired by Mary Shepherd, is dedicated to Tom Dimock (TD) of Ventura, California. Tom has been recording Sphingidae sightings since 1964.

Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for California. Not all of the species are reported by USGS (nine species) or anticipated in Ventura County.

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

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Ventura County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.

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.

* The Sphinx at the top of the page was rescued by Mary Shepherd from certain death at the beaks of numerous birds who were trying to catch it in Mary's garden in Fillmore (Ventura County), California. The habitat is chaparral and oak woodland vegetation less than a half-mile to the north and west and the Sespe River.

The moth has probably been mouthed by several of the birds as there is significant scale loss on the forwewings. I (Bill Oehlke) did some digital repair on the lower left wing.

Sphinx chersis, Sphinx perelegans and Sphinx vashti are quite similar. Note the dark upper thorax with wide black bars extending to the abdomen on the image of Sphinx perelegans. In Sphinx chersis the entire thorax is uniform light blue-grey with very narrow dark lines.

Sphinx vashti lacks the checkered fringe so evident on the right hindwing of Mary's image.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata WO This species has not been reported in Ventura County, but may be there as a stray. The moth is a very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. Manduca quinquemaculata USGS/TD, 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 WO/TD, the Carolina Sphinx This species is now recorded in Ventura County, and it has been reported in neighbouring counties. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sphinx chersis USGS/TD, 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/MS /TD, 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. Mary Shepherd confirms August 1, 2004. It flies from dusk until after midnight. Note dark thorax. Sphinx sequoiae WO/TD, the Sequoiae Sphinx This species is now recorded in Ventura County. Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Sphinx vashti USGS/TD, the Snowberry Sphinx, Snowberry Sphinx adults fly as a single brood in montane woodlands and along prairie streamcourses from April to August, usually further north. 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: Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS/TD, 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/TD, 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. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, WO This species is more likely to occur as a rare stray rather than as a breeding resident. If present at all, it would be seen later in the season, July-August. Erinnyis ello, the Ello Sphinx, WO/TD The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. It is now recorded from Ventura. Adults nectar at dusk so you may see them in the garen at that time. 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 USGS/TD, 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 WO/TD, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is now recorded for Ventura County, and should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage. Macroglossini Tribe: Arctonotus lucidus WO/PMJ/TD, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx This species is now confirmed in Ventura County by Peter M. Jump via Tom Dimock. January 14, 2006 sighting was the third specimen in a week at Peter's house in the Upper Ojai Valley. Euproserpinus euterpe, the Euterpe Sphinx, WO/TD/PMJ Euproserpinus euterpe adults fly in pastures and fallow fields as a single brood from late January-February-April. They nectar at flowers of filaree (Erodium) and Nemophila during the warm parts of the day. This species is listed as "threatened" in its known range. Euproserpinus phaeton, the Phaeton Primrose Sphinx, WO Adults nectar at flowers during the warm parts of the day. Euproserpinus phaeton adults fly swiftly and close to the ground over dry washes and flat areas in deserts as a single brood from February-April. Hyles lineata WO/TD, 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 in nearby LA county. 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.

Sphinx perelegans *, August 1, 2004, courtesy of Mary Shepherd

Thanks to Mary's care, the moth survived the bird attack, and now it prepares for flight.

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Tom Dimock of Ventura, California writes (June 3, 2005):

"I have the following records for Sphingidae from Ventura County. All are in my collection except as noted.

7775 Manduca sexta La Conchita 20 Ft. 28 Sept 1989 Ex-larva
7776 Manduca quinquemaculata Apache Canyon 3600 Ft. 27 June 1997
7802 Sphinx chersis Howard Creek 200 Ft. 11 June 1964
7803 Sphinx vashti Pine Mt. 6750 Ft. 10 June 1999
7805 Sphinx perelegans Howard Creek 3200 Ft. 11 June 1964
7814 Sphinx sequioae Apache Canyon 3600 Ft. 1 June 1996
7822 Smerinthus cerisyi Foster Park 220 Ft. 5 Sept 1983 Ex-larva
7829 Pachysphinx occidentalis Sespe Creek 3490 Ft. 29 June 1996
7834 Erinnyis ello Ventura City 180 Ft. 6 Sept 1983
7855 Hemaris diffinis Tule Creek 3750 Ft. 7 June 1964
7861 Eumorpha achemon Piru 700 Ft. 30Aug 1991 Ex-larva
7881 Euproserpinus euterpe Cuyama Valley March 2005: larva site record by Peter M. Jump.
7894 Hyles lineata Ventura City 180 Ft. 1 July 1991

I know of no records for Euproserpinus phaeton for Ventura County. The closest phaeton gets to Ventura County is in the western Antelope Valley in Los Angeles Co. If it were to be found anywhere in Ventura Co., I suspect it would be near Frazier Park, west of Interstate 5. Most of that area is now Kern Co., however, as the county lines were adjusted for Kern Co. to take control of the Frazier Park community.

I believe Peter Jump also has a Ventura Co. record for Arctonotus lucidus, but I'll have to verify it." Now, January 2006, confirmed!

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