Sphinx sequoiae courtesy of Paul Opler.

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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DISTRIBUTION:

The Sequoia Sphinx, Sphinx sequoiae, (Wing span: 1 7/8 - 2 11/16 inches (4.8 - 6.8 cm)), flies from Oregon south through California, Nevada, and southeastern Utah to Arizona, and south into northern Baja California.

The dark form, occurring from Oregon to central California, has blue-gray forewings with black dashes along the middle. The pale form, in the juniper belt of the rest of the range, is very pale gray with only a faint blue tint.

FLIGHT TIMES:

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

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at a variety of flowers, including western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa) and California buckeye (Aesculus californica).

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on California juniper (Juniperus californica) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. osteosperma).

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