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Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Frank Pucci, May 29, 2006
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, August 13, 2011
Updated as per BAMONA, August 13, 2011
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Contra Costa County
Sphingidae
Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS (now BAMONA) for
California. Not all of the species are reported by the USGS for
Contra Costa.
(Four species: Smerinthus cerisyi, Arctonotus lucidus,
Proserpinus clarkiae and Hyles lineata are listed by the
USGS for Contra Costa County; now (2011) five: Eumorpha achemon.)
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 Contra Costa County, but I
(William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.
This page is dedicated to Frank Pucci
(FP) and his wife Gail Pucci of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County,
California.
Frank writes, May 29, 2006, "I live in Walnut Creek, Ca., and my wife
found an incredible moth on our basil, right next to our
tomato plants. She gave me a call at work and I
had her catch it.
"I got home from work a little while ago and looked
it, at first I was thinking sphinx of some sort, but
then I spread its wings.
"It's a Manduca sexta sexta."
Frank was "right on" with his identification (verified by digital image).
Thanks to Gail for capturing the moth.
A USGS indicates the
moth is reported on the USGS website (now BAMONA) 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.
Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens
(potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. |
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This species is now recorded in Contra Costa County.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. |
Manduca sexta confirmed by Frank Pucci, Walnut Creek,
May 29, 2006.
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Sphinx chersis
WO, 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.
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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. (southern range limit in CA
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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.
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This species is not recorded in Contra Costa County.
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper
woodland from May to August.
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta
being smaller and darker.
Moths should be on the wing from June-August.
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Smerinthus cerisyi
BAMONA, 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.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
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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.
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Philampelini Tribe:
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This moth is now recorded for Contra Costa County,
but it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.
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Macroglossini Tribe:
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Arctonotus lucidus
BAMONA, the Pacific Green
Sphinx Moth or Bear SphinxThis 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.
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Hyles lineata
BAMONA,
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.
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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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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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This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the
WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae/Catocala Sites", contact Bill.
Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.
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