For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Wayne Yang, who provides the image of Smerinthus cerisyi at top of this page. Wayne sent the photo asking for some identification help, and I am going first with cerisyi, based on reddish tint to anal horn, but it could also be Smerinthus ophthalmica.

Thirty-three Sphingidae species are listed on the BAMONA website for California. Not all of the species are reported by BAMONA for Alpine. (Seven species: Sphinx vashti; Sphinx asellus; Sphinx drupiferarum; Sphinx perelegans, Pachysphinx occidentalis, Hemaris thetis, Hyles lineata, are listed by BAMONA for Alpine County) as of August 21, 2019.

A green Alpine indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA website (Alpine County) 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.

Please also forward sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

Although this page was originally designed to cover Alpine County, it is also valid for the following counties:

Alpine: Sphinx asellus; Sphinx drupiferarum; Sphinx perelegans; Sphinx vashti; Pachysphinx occidentalis; Hemaris thetis; Hyles lineata;

Amador: Manduca sexta; Sphinx perelegans; Smerinthus cerisyi; Hemaris thetis; Eumorpha achemon; Proserpinus clarkiae; Proserpinus lucidus;

Calaveras: Sphinx chersis; Sphinx perelegans; Sphinx sequoiae; Hemaris thetis; Proserpinus clarkiae;

El Dorado: Sphinx perelegans; Sphinx sequoiae; Sphinx vashti; Smerinthus cerisyi; Hemaris thetis; Eumorpha achemon; Proserpinus clarkiae;

Toulumne: Manduca quinquemaculatus; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx perelegans; Sphinx sequoiae; Sphinx vashti; Paonias myops; Smerinthus cerisyi; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles lineata; Proserpinus lucidus; Proserpinus clarkiae.

Visit Alpine County Sphingidae Adult Sphinx Moths; Hawkmoths.

Visit California Catocala: Underwing Moths.

If you are travelling, you can find active Sphingidae checklists for all countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbbean via the links at North, Central, South American Sphingidae checklists

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Manduca quinquemaculatus WO/Toulumne, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen. Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). There is also a very beautiful brown form. See bottom of page. Manduca sexta WO/Amador/, the Carolina Sphinx Tobacco Hornworms, equipped with a red-tipped horn at the end of the abdomen, are true gluttons and feed on tobacco and tomato, and occasionally potato and pepper crops and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Sphinx asellus, Alpine, Asella sphinx: Larval hosts are Manzanita and Arctostaphylos of the Ericaceae family. Look for a blue horn and strong purple colouration. This one is probably rare in northcentral California. Sphinx chersis WO/Calaveras/Toulumne, the Great Ash Sphinx. The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum Alpine, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. Sphinx perelegans Alpine/Amador/Calaveras/El Dorado/Toulumne, the Elegant Sphinx; A unique feature of this larva is a shield on the first thoracic segment, which is of the same colour as the body and which forms a tight-fitting hood over the vertex of the head. This hides a pair of glossy black spots on top of the head, which are revealed if the animal is disturbed. Sphinx sequoiae WO/Calaveras/El Dorado/Toulumne, the Sequoiae Sphinx: Larvae feed on California juniper (Juniperus californica) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. osteosperma). (generally more westerly) Sphinx vashti Alpine/El Dorado/Toulumne, the Snowberry Sphinx Larvae feed on the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus). Note the two golden lines of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis Alpine, the Big Poplar Sphinx Larvae feed on cottonwood and poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix). Larvae are very chunky with little to distinguish them from Pachysphinx modesta. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. Skin is quite granulous. (generally more northerly) Paonias myops WO/Toulumne, the Small-eyed Sphinx Wild cherry species are the favorites as larval foodplants, but eggs will also be deposited on birches and other forest trees. There are varying degrees in the amount of red markings along the sides. Smerinthus cerisyi WO/WY/Amador/El Dorado/Toulumne, Cerisy's Sphinx; Cerisyi larvae greatly resemble modesta larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from the head to a more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with a pale yellow inverted "V". Smerinthus cerisyi, Indian Creek Campground, Markleeville, Alpine County, August 21, 2019, Wayne Yang Smerinthus ophthalmica WO (just as likely as cerisyi): Ophthalmica larvae resemble cerisyi larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from head to more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow inverted "V". Note blue horn. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Hemaris thetis Alpine/Amador/Calaveras/El Dorado. Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, high bush cranberry and hawthorn (Crataegus). Horn is black with a slightly lighter base. This western species was formerly classified as H. diffinis or H. senta. Those species west of the Continental Divide are now classified as H. thetis. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO/Amador/El Dorado/Toulumne, the Achemon Sphinx: Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown) form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines, as well as absence of anal horn in final instar. Macroglossini Tribe: Hyles lineata Alpine/Toulumne, the White-lined Sphinx Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia. All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines. Proserpinus clarkiae WO/Amador/Calaveras/El Dorado/Toulumne, Clark's Sphinx, Larvae feed on elegant fairyfan (Clarkia unguiculata) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Proserpinus lucidus WO/Amador/Toulumne, Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx. Larvae feed on evening primrose (Oenothera dentata var. campestris) and clarkias. David Wikle fed them on both Mexican evening primrose, Oenothera berlandieri and evening primrose, Oenothera biennis. (formerly classified as Arctonotus lucidus)

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Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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