Glacier County, Montana
Sphingidae

Hyles lineata, Gunsight Pass, Montana, August 30, 2005, courtesy of George Rogers.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to George Rogers who sent me the image of Hyles lineata at the top of the page.

George writes, "The caterpillar was on a dirt hiking trail leading up to Gunsight Pass from Lake Ellen Wilson. Altitude was about 6500, and the terrain was dirt and rock with flowers, bushes, and lots of wildflowers - no trees. Lots of water in the area due to snow runoff, but he was on dry dirt. Seemed to be unhappy, and moving quickly but often rolling over. Did not seem to be injured. About three inches in length."

Hyles lineata usually have a green ground colour, but this one has changed as it is ready to pupate. The stumpy legs, associated with this stage of development, are probably responsible for the "rolling over" observed by George.

Ten Sphingidae species are listed for Montana on the USGS checklist. I have added some species to Montana which I feel are likely present. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Glacier County (only two on USGS: Great Ash Sphinx, (Sphinx chersis) and One-eyed Sphinx, (Smerinthus cerisyi).
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 Glacier County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be 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.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Ceratomia undulosa WO, the Waved Sphinx
The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot.
possibly

Manduca quinquemaculata WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth
The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. Larvae feed on tomatoes and go by the common name of "Tomato Hornworms".

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 of which reaches the wing tip. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Sphinx drupiferarum larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night.
possibly

Sphinx vashti WO, the Snowberry Sphinx
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 running inwards from the apex of the wing.
It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx,
This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump.

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, the Big Poplar Sphinx
This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. There are two color forms: the upperside of the forewings is yellow brown in the pale form and dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks.
The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx
This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, the Cerisyi's Sphinx
If you have willows and poplars nearby, you've probably got populations of the Cerisyi's Sphinx.
The hindwings are quite striking.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx
Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. possibly

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini tribe

Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth
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 just before the end.

Macroglossini tribe

Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx
This species is not officially reported from Glacier County; however, if you have Gallium or Epilobium, you probably have populations of this species.

Hyles lineata GR, the White-lined Sphinx
This species is very widespread. It can be seen flying during the day, into the evening and also at night.
The highly variable larvae are often found in people's gardens.

Hyles lineata, George Rogers, larva August 30, 2005, Gunsight Pass

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Glacier County, Montana Sphingidae

Hyles lineata, Gunsight Pass, Montana, August 30, 2005, courtesy of George Rogers.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Ceratomia undulosa WO, the Waved Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot.possibly

Manduca quinquemaculata WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. Larvae feed on tomatoes and go by the common name of "Tomato Hornworms".

Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash SphinxThe upperside of the forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Sphinx drupiferarum larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. possibly

Sphinx vashti WO, the Snowberry Sphinx 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 running inwards from the apex of the wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump.

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, the Big Poplar Sphinx This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. There are two color forms: the upperside of the forewings is yellow brown in the pale form and dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx The grey-blue eyespot of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks. The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, the Cerisyi's Sphinx If you have willows and poplars nearby, you've probably got populations of the Cerisyi's Sphinx. The hindwings are quite striking.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. possibly

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini tribe

Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth 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 just before the end.

Macroglossini tribe

Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not officially reported from Glacier County; however, if you have Gallium or Epilobium, you probably have populations of this species.

Hyles lineata GR, the White-lined Sphinx This species is very widespread. It can be seen flying during the day, into the evening and also at night. The highly variable larvae are often found in people's gardens.

Glacier County, Montana
Sphingidae

Ceratomia undulosa WO, the Waved Sphinx
The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot.
possibly

Manduca quinquemaculata WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth
The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. Larvae feed on tomatoes and go by the common name of "Tomato Hornworms".

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 of which reaches the wing tip. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Sphinx drupiferarum larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night.
possibly

Sphinx vashti WO, the Snowberry Sphinx
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 running inwards from the apex of the wing.
It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses.

Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx,
This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump.

Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, the Big Poplar Sphinx
This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. There are two color forms: the upperside of the forewings is yellow brown in the pale form and dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks.
The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx
This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, the Cerisyi's Sphinx
If you have willows and poplars nearby, you've probably got populations of the Cerisyi's Sphinx.
The hindwings are quite striking.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx
Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. possibly

Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth
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 just before the end.

Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx
This species is not officially reported from Glacier County; however, if you have Gallium or Epilobium, you probably have populations of this species.

Hyles lineata GR, the White-lined Sphinx
This species is very widespread. It can be seen flying during the day, into the evening and also at night.
The highly variable larvae are often found in people's gardens.