Sacramento County
Sphingidae

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Manduca quinquemaculatus, 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, the Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. possibly Sphinx chersis, 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 drupiferarum, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently. Sphinx perelegans, 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. It flies from dusk until after midnight. Note dark thorax. Sphinx sequoiae, the Sequoiae Sphinx Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August. Sphinx vashti, 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 occidentalis EB, 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. Pachysphinx occidentalis, Sacramento, June 4, 2011, courtesy of Earl Byron, Ph.D. Smerinthus cerisyi, 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: Hemaris thetis, the Thetis Clearwing or Bee Hawk 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, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not officially recorded for Sacramento County, but it should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage. Macroglossini Tribe: Arctonotus lucidus, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx This species is confirmed in Contra Costa County. It tends to be an late winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night. Hyles lineata, 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 LA county. Proserpinus clarkiae, 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.