Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, February 16, 2009

Yuba County, California
Sphingidae

Smerinthus cerisyi by Jean Haxaire (Bill Oehlke pupa, Montague, P.E.I.),
confirmed for Yuba county by Stephen S. Miller.

This page is dedicated to Stephen S. Miller of Browns Valley (elevation 500 feet), Yuba County, California, for his abiding interest in Lepidoptera.
Many thanks also to Brandi Lanini Murray who has documented a sighting of Eumorpha achemon in Marysville.

Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for California. Not all of the species are reported by the USGS for Yuba. (One species, the Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is listed by the USGS for Yuba County.)
Steve Miller confirms that Smerinthus cerisyi is also present as are Hyles lineata, Manduca sexta (possibly as a stray), Pachysphinx occidentalis, Sphinx perelegans, Eumorpha achemon and Sphinx chersis.
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 Butte County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is 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:

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, 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 SM, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is reported by Stephen Miller.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Generally its breeding ground is further south. It will be interesting if larvae are encountered.

Sphinx chersis SM, 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 WO, 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 SM, 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 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 occidentalis SM, 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.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) 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 might be present. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi SSM, 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 USGS, 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 SM/BLM, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth is now recorded for Yuba County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Flight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Eumorpha achemon, Marysville, August 1, 2011, Brandi Lanini Murray

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus PH/WO, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is confirmed in nearby Butte County by Patience Hervey, December 29-30, 2005.
It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata SM, 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.

Proserpinus clarkiae WO, 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.

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Yuba County, California Sphingidae

Smerinthus cerisyi by Jean Haxaire (Bill Oehlke pupa, Montague, P.E.I.), confirmed for Yuba county by Stephen S. Miller.

This page is dedicated to Stephen S. Miller of Browns Valley (elevation 500 feet), Yuba County, California, for his abiding interest in Lepidoptera. Many thanks also to Brandi Lanini Murray who has documented a sighting of Eumorpha achemon in Marysville.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, 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 SM, the Carolina Sphinx This species is reported by Stephen Miller. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Generally its breeding ground is further south. It will be interesting if larvae are encountered.

Sphinx chersis SM, 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 WO, 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 SM, 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 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 occidentalis SM, 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.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) 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 might be present. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi SSM, 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 USGS, 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 SM/BLM, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is now recorded for Yuba County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found. Flight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus PH/WO, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear SphinxThis species is confirmed in nearby Butte County by Patience Hervey, December 29-30, 2005. It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata SM, 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.

Proserpinus clarkiae WO, 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.

Yuba County, California
Sphingidae

Smerinthus cerisyi by Jean Haxaire (Bill Oehlke pupa, Montague, P.E.I.),
confirmed for Yuba county by Stephen S. Miller.

This page is dedicated to Stephen S. Miller of Browns Valley (elevation 500 feet), Yuba County, California, for his abiding interest in Lepidoptera.
Many thanks also to Brandi Lanini Murray who has documented a sighting of Eumorpha achemon in Marysville.

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, 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 SM, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is reported by Stephen Miller.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Generally its breeding ground is further south. It will be interesting if larvae are encountered.

Sphinx chersis SM, 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 WO, 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 SM, 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 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 occidentalis SM, 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.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) 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 might be present. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background.

Smerinthus cerisyi SSM, 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.

Hemaris thetis USGS, 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.

Eumorpha achemon SM/BLM, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth is now recorded for Yuba County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Flight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Arctonotus lucidus PH/WO, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is confirmed in nearby Butte County by Patience Hervey, December 29-30, 2005.
It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata SM, 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.

Proserpinus clarkiae WO, 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.