Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Rob Santry, April 13, 2012
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, April 13, 2012
Updated as per BAMONA,April 13, 2012

Shasta County, northern California
Sphingidae

Hemaris thetis, Anderson, Shasta County, California,
May 29, 2007, courtesy of Rob Santry.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Rob Santry, of Shasta County, California. Rob captured the above image of Hemaris thetis on May 29, 2007.
Rob also sends the more recent Smerinthus ophthalmica image at the bottom of the page.

Thirty-three Sphingidae species are listed on the BAMONA website for California. Not all of the species are reported by the BAMONA for Shasta County. (Twelve species are listed as of April 13, 2012 by BAMONA for Shasta County.)
It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the Sphingidae you have encountered or are likely to encounter.
A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Shasta County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.
A BAMONA indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA 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. Please also send your sightings to BAMONA.
Also visit California Catocala, underwing moths.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 WO, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is now recorded in Tehama County by Rodger Harris. If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it just a little further north in Shasta County. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Sphinx vashti BAMONA, 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 WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 RS/BAMONA, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx,
Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from mid April-July as a single brood.

Smerinthus opthalmica MPNw
Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.
Smerinthus ophthalmica, Redding, April 10, 2012, Rob Santry

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

Hemaris thetis RS/BAMONA, 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.
Hemaris thetis, Anderson, May 29, 2007, Rob Santry

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon BAMONA, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth has been recorded in Shasta County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

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.

Proserpinus clarkiae BAMONA, 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.

Smerinthus ophthalmica Redding, Shasta County, California,
April 10, 2012, courtesy of Rob Santry.
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Shasta County, northern California Sphingidae

Hemaris thetis, Anderson, Shasta County, California, May 29, 2007, courtesy of Rob Santry.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Rob Santry, of Shasta County, California. Rob captured the above image of Hemaris thetis on May 29, 2007. Rob also sends the more recent Smerinthus ophthalmica image at the bottom of the page.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 WO, the Carolina Sphinx This species is now recorded in Tehama County by Rodger Harris. If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it just a little further north in Shasta County. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Sequoiae Sphinx Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Sphinx vashti BAMONA, 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 WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 RS/BAMONA, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from mid April-July as a single brood.

Smerinthus opthalmica MPNw Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

Hemaris thetis RS/BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Achemon Sphinx This moth has been recorded in Shasta County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear SphinxThis species tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

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.

Proserpinus clarkiae BAMONA, 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.

Shasta County, northern California
Sphingidae

Hemaris thetis, Anderson, Shasta County, California,
May 29, 2007, courtesy of Rob Santry.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Rob Santry, of Shasta County, California. Rob captured the above image of Hemaris thetis on May 29, 2007.
Rob also sends the more recent Smerinthus ophthalmica image at the bottom of the page.

Manduca quinquemaculatus BAMONA, 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 WO, the Carolina Sphinx
This species is now recorded in Tehama County by Rodger Harris. If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it just a little further north in Shasta County. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis BAMONA, 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 sequoiae BAMONA, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Sphinx vashti BAMONA, 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 WO, 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 BAMONA, 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 RS/BAMONA, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx,
Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from mid April-July as a single brood.

Smerinthus opthalmica MPNw
Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

Hemaris thetis RS/BAMONA, 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 BAMONA, the Achemon Sphinx
This moth has been recorded in Shasta County, and it should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Arctonotus lucidus BAMONA, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

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.

Proserpinus clarkiae BAMONA, 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.