Edna Woodward

Edna Woodward of Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon, has sent me many outstanding images of adult Saturniidae, Sphingidae and Catocala from Wolf Creek.

Edna is having great success with rearing and has provided life cycle photographs of several species.

I am amazed at her patience and the quality of photos, especially of eggs and tiny early instar larvae. Her efforts will greatly assist in the identification of many species. She currently has a Catocala species laying eggs so I hope to have great images of larvae in spring of 2010.

October 5, 2009, Edna writes, "I can tell you why the Achemon Sphinx is here in Josephine County, and I don't believe it is rare at all: 1) wild grapes in the river and creek bottoms. 2) Also there are many vineyards in Josephine, Jackson and even Douglas counties. 3) The wild grapes have always been here, and I would say the achemon adults don't come to the lights all that well until I got the black light.

"I saw when I was poking around last week where large caterpillers had fed on the wild grapes down lower Wolf and Grave creeks. I also want to mention in passing I am close to the corner where Jackson, Douglas and Josephine counties come together. I am one mile from the Douglas line to the north and I am about to 4 miles to the Jackson County line east of me. So I am in a somewhat unique position. Next year I will run over to the Sether Ranch a few times to see what I can confirm for you there. If I go on the backside of King Mountain I can do the same for Jackson county. That's about 7 miles from the house."

Sphinx sequoiae male, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
June 29, 2009, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802
Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802
Genus: Sphinx Linnaeus, 1758 ...........
Species: sequoiae Boisduval, 1868

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