Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, August 21, 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Evan Rand (Sphinx libocedrus July 18, 2009, California Gulch, Santa Cruz Co. - several males); May 9, 2010
Updated as per personal communication with Evan Rand (Sphinx libocedrus July 17, 2009, Pena Blanca Canyon, Santa Cruz Co. - several males); May 9, 2010

Santa Cruz County
Arizona

Sphingidae

Eumorpha typhon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona,
124mm, July 26, 2004, courtesy of Harry Dale King

Many thanks to the USGS website, Robert J. Nuelle, Jr. RJN, Ira Nadborne IN, Evan Rand ER, Harry Dale King HDK and Bruce Walsh who have provided images and/or data. Thanks also to the many photographers who have provided images.

Those species followed by my initials, WO, are not confirmed for Santa Cruz County, but I feel they may be encountered as strays, or may exist in populations not yet encountered by reporting collectors.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, USGS/ER, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth

This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species).

Agrius cingulata - 3 specimens, Jct. of FR 49 and FR 812, Patagonia Mountains, 7 Aug. 2010, elevation 5100', Evan rand

Ceratomia sonorensis, USGS/ER, Sonoran Sphinx,

The fringes of the upper wings are checkered black and white. The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black bars and dashes and whitish patches. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with pale gray at the base and has two black transverse lines.

Ceratomia sonorensis
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca

Dolbogene hartwegii, USGS/RJNIII/ER, Hartweg's Sphinx

This small moth flies at dusk. Both the forewing and the hindwing have a dark spot at the anal angle. The forewing has a dark cell marking with a white center. There is also a dark patch along the inner margin in the basal area.

Dolbogene hartwegii, Robert J. Nuelle, III, August 7, 2004
Dolbogene hartwegii - 1 male, California Gulch, Atascosa Mountains, 21 July 2010, elevation 3800', Evan Rand

Lintneria istar USGS/IN/ER, the Istar Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with brown tinges. A series of narrow dashes runs from the tip to the cell spots, and a wide black band runs from the middle of the outer margin to the base of the wing.

Sphinx istar
Ira Nadborne, July 13, 2004, Madera
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw
Linternia istar - 1 specimen, Harshaw Townsite, Patagonia Mountains, 6 Aug. 2010, elevation 4850', Evan Rand

Lintneria separatus USGS/ER, the Separated Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black and light gray wavy lines. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a brownish gray border and two white bands.

Linternia separatus - 1 specimen, Jct. of FR 49 and FR 812, Patagonia Mountains, 7 Aug. 2010, elevation 5100', Evan Rand

Lintneria smithi USGS, Smith's sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black and light gray wavy lines. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a brownish gray border and two white bands.

Manduca florestan USGS/RJN/ER/IN

The upperside of the forewing is gray to yellowish gray to brown. The reddish brown patch just outside the cell and above the dashes is the most distinguishing character.

Manduca florestan
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca;
Evan Rand, (many), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw
Ira Nadborne, (8), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft

Manduca muscosa USGS/ER, Muscosa sphinx

The upperside of the moth is soft greenish gray; the forewing has a small green to white cell spot, and the hindwing has black bands and a black patch at the base.

Manduca muscosa
Evan Rand, (late July); August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, (10-20), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Manduca occulta USGS/ER, Occult sphinx

Manduca occulta can be differentiated from M. sexta which has 2/3 black, 1/3 white checkering on the forewing, while occulta has equal amounts of black and white checkering.

Manduca occulta, Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw
Manduca occulta - 2 males, Harshaw Townsite, Patagonia Mountains, 2 Aug. 2010, elevation 4850', Evan Rand
Manduca occulta - 1 male, California Gulch, Atascosa Mountains, 21 - July 2010, elevation 3800', Evan Rand

Manduca quinquemaculata USGS/ER, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth

This species is confirmed in Yavapai County, and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.

Manduca quinquemaculata
Evan Rand, (many), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Manduca rustica USGS/RJN/ER, the Rustic Sphinx

This species is officially recorded in Yavapai County, and it has been taken in other nearby counties. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen.

Manduca rustica
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca; August 7, 2004, California Gulch
Evan Rand, uncommon; Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, (6) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Manduca sexta USGS/ER/IN, the Carolina Sphinx

This species is recorded in Yavapai County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though.

Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Manduca sexta
Evan Rand, Common in Santa Cruz Co. (Late July/August)
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, July 26-27, 2008 (many), Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw
Ira Nadborne, (15), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft

Sagenosoma elsa WO, the Elsa sphinx: Forewing upperside has a wide white band along the costa from base to apex. The remainder of the wing has black and white bands. The entire forewing is speckled with dark dots and has a light dusting of pale yellow to yellow-green scales. The upperside of the hindwing is white with two black bands.

Sphinx asellus USGS/ER, the Asella sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is pale silver-gray with a series of black dashes, a white patch at the tip, and a white stripe along the outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with blurry white bands.

Sphinx asellus
Evan Rand, (5-6), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon

Sphinx chersis USGS/RJN/ER, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx

This species is reported in Yavapai. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx chersis
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Sphinx dollii USGS/RJN/IN/ER, the Doll's sphinx

Sphinx dollii (Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.3 cm)), flies in arid brushlands and desert foothills from Nevada and southern California east through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to Oklahoma and Texas.

Sphinx dollii
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca
Ira Nadborne, (12) July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Sphinx libocedrus USGS/ER, the Incense Cedar Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is pale blue-gray to dark gray with a black dash reaching the wing tip and a white stripe along the lower outer margin.
The upperside of the hindwing is black with two diffuse white bands, the upper one being practically non-existent.

Evan Rand, (3), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
July 18, 2009, California Gulch, Santa Cruz Co. - several males); Evan Rand
July 17, 2009, Pena Blanca Canyon, Santa Cruz Co. - several males); Evan Rand

Sphinx separatus WO, the Separated Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with black and light gray wavy lines. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a brownish gray border and two white bands.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS/RJN/ER/IN, 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
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca;
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, (6), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw
Ira Nadborne, (4), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft

Paonias myops USGS/IN/ER, the Small-eyed Sphinx

Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution.

Paonias myops
Ira Nadborne, (2), July 13, 2004, Madera
Evan Rand (2), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon

Smerinthus cerisyi USGS/ER, 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.

Smerinthus cerisyi
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca; (1), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Smerinthus saliceti USGS/ER/IN, the Salicet Sphinx, flies in valleys and along streamsides from Mexico City north to west Texas, southern Arizona, and extreme southern California. Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late April-September, probably as a double brood.

Smerinthus saliceti
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Ira Nadborne, (6), July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini tribe:

Aellopos clavipes USGS, the Aellopos Sphinx.

The body is dark brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. Wings are dark brown. The forewing has a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the pale brown marginal area. stray

Aellopos titan WO, the Titan Sphinx.

The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. stray

Callionima falcifera WO,

This species is redder than C. parce, has more falcate wings and flies after midnight. The very similar Callionima parce is browner, slightly less falcate and flies before midnight. stray

Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, WO

The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line to the inside of the cell spot. possible stray

Erinnyis alope, the Alope Sphinx, USGS/ER

The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear half.
The upperside of the hindwing is bright yellow with a wide dark brown border.

Erinnyis alope - 1 specimen, Jct. of FR 49 and FR 812, Patagonia Mountains, 7 Aug. 2010, elevation 5100', Evan Rand

Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, USGS

The upperside of the abdomen is gray, without black bands, and the underside does not have black spots. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown, and may have pale yellow-brown patches along the inner edge.

Erinnyis ello USGS/ER, the Ello Sphinx: Abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Female's fw upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near outer margin. Male's fw upperside is dark gray and brown with a black band running from base to tip. Hindwing upperside is orange with wide black border.

Erinnyis ello
Evan Rand, (5), July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Erinnyis lassauxii, Lassaux's Sphinx, USGS

The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with gray streaks along the inner margin and a gray patch at the tip of the wing. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with varying amounts of dark orange at the base. stray

Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, USGS/ER

During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk.

July and August are flight times in the southern states.

Erinnyis obscura - 2 males, California Gulch, Atascosa Mountains, 21 - July 2010, elevation 3800', Evan Rand

Hemaris thetis WO, 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.

Isognathus rimosa, the Rimosus Sphinx, USGS/ER
The upperside of female forewing is mostly gray brown on the front half and dark brown on the rear half while the upperside of male forewing is yellow gray or gray brown. Both sexes have wavy dark markings. The upperside of the hindwing of both sexes is yellow with an incomplete dark border on the outer margin. stray

Isognathus rimosa
Evan rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon USGS/ER, the Achemon Sphinx

The pink basal area of the hindwing clearly distinguishes this species.
Eumorpha achemon larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis).

Eumorpha achemon, Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Eumorpha achemon, August 11, 2010, Pena Blanca, Eric Hossler

Eumorpha fasciatus USGS, the Banded Sphinx/Lesser Vine Sphinx
The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. stray

Eumorpha satellitia licaon WO, the Satellite Sphinx

The Satellite Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha satellitia licaon flies in western Mexico and sometimes strays into southeastern Arizona. stray

Eumorpha typhon USGS/ER/IN/HDK, the Typhon Sphinx

The upperside of wings is deep red-brown with pale brown bands. Each hindwing has pink along the costal margin and a triangular white spot on the outer part of the inner margin.

Eumorpha typhon, Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Ira Nadborne, (2) July 13, 2007, Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft
Harry D. King, July 26, 2004
Eumorpha typhon, August 11, 2010, Pena Blanca, Eric Hossler

Eumorpha vitis USGS, the Vine Sphinx

The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin. stray

Macroglossini tribe:

Hyles lineata USGS/RJN/ER, the White-lined Sphinx

The white lines on the body and forewings are striking. Even in flight, the broad pink area on the hindwings is visible.

Larvae can be quite varied.

Hyles lineata
Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., August 6, 2004, Pena Blanca;
Evan Rand, Very common Santa Cruz Cos. (March to October)
Evan Rand, August 8, 2007, Pena Blanca
Evan Rand, (many) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Evan Rand, July 30-31, 2008, Jct. FR 49 and FR 912, near Harshaw

Proserpinus terlooii USGS/ER, the Terloo sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is uniform olive green with a darker median band. The upperside of the hindwing is red with an olive green border.

Proserpinus terlooii, Evan Rand, mid July, 2007, Pena Blanca; (1) July 26-27, 2008, Pena Blanca Canyon
Proserpinus terlooii - 1 male, California Gulch, Atascosa Mountains, 21 July 2010, elevation 3800', Evan Rand

Proserpinus vega WO, the Vega sphinx

Jim Tuttle writes, "P. vega has a very large and dark basal patch as the FW meets the thorax that is lacking in terlooii. There are also three prominent longitudinal stripes on the thorax of vega that are lacking in terlooii." possibility

Xylophanes ceratomoides USGS, the Brown and yellow Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with dark brown markings in the basal area, and diagonally from near the apex to the center of the inner margin. There is a small dark cell spot. The outer margin is distinct, set off from the rest of the wing by a pale subterminal line. unlikely stray


Xylophanes falco USGS/ER, the Falcon Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is orange-brown along the forward half, striped with dark brown and light brown along the rear half, with dark brown bands separating the two.

The upperside of the hindwing is pale brown with dark brown marginal and submarginal lines.

Xylophanes falco
Evan Rand, uncommon in Santa Cruz Co. (late July/early August)
(40) Coronado National Forest, Madera Canyon Upper Parking lot, Santa Rita Mts, 6000Ft, July 13, 2007, Ira Nadborne

Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with a band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks. stray

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Eric hossler: Pena Blanca, Aug 11, 2010:

Rothschildia cincta - 1 (3am - highlight of my night!) Sphingicampa montana - 10+ (all after midnight) Sphingicampa hubbardi - 10+ (most after midnight) Eacles oslari - 10 Citheronia splendens - 12 (most after midnight) Antherea oculea - 1 (11pm) Automeris cecrops - 5 (all after midnight) Eumorpha typhon - 1 Eumorpha achemon - 2 Proserpinus terlooii - 1 (caught sitting on Boerhaavia stem, not at the light) Erinnyis ello - 3 Sphinx chersis - 1 Manduca rustica - 1 Manduca quinquemaculatus - 10 Manduca sexta - 30 Hyles lineata - 30 Ceratomia sonorensis - 2 Smerinthus saliceti/cerisyi - 1 Paonias excaecata - 1