Smerinthus saliceti, Encinitas, northern/coastal San Diego County, California,
August 21, 2007, 5:00pm, courtesy of Don Doerfler, Digital Camera: Olympus 5060, 8MP
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902 |
"What.A.Wonderful.World" |
The forewing outer margin is wavy and the upperside of forewing is gray-brown with distinct dark and light bands. The upperside of the hindwing is mostly red with a yellow-tan outer margin and a blue spot which is usually divided by a V-shaped black line.
CATE indicates this species is more orangey-brown than the very similar grey to grey brown Smerinthus cerisyi from further north and east. The hindwing eyspot is also somewhat different. In Smerinthus cerisyi, the hindwing dorsal eyespot has the black mark in the centre of the blue area circular or diamond shaped and completely surrounded by blue, whereas in Smerinthus saliceti the blue spot is divided by a downwardly angulate band that touches the lateral, black borders.
Smerinthus saliceti male, on my home computer only.
Smerinthus saliceti, Encinitas, northern/coastal San Diego County, California,
August 21, 2007, 5:00pm, courtesy of Don Doerfler, Digital Camera: Olympus 5060, 8MP
I suspect the wetland habitat has willows and/or poplars, the larval hosts of this species.
Smerinthus saliceti, Encinitas, northern/coastal San Diego County, California,
August 21, 2007, 5:00pm, courtesy of Don Doerfler, Digital Camera: Olympus 5060, 8MP
Larvae feed on willow (Salix) or poplar (Populus).
Smerinthus saliceti, male and female courtesy of Bruce Walsh.
Smerinthus saliceti, Encinitas, northern/coastal San Diego County, California,
August 21, 2007, 5:00pm, courtesy of Don Doerfler, Digital Camera: Olympus 5060, 8MP
There are two colour morphs, one a pale green and one lime green.Larvae feed on willow (Salix) or poplar (Populus). |
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Populus....... |
Poplar |
Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.