Snohomish County
Sphingidae

This page is dedicated to Dallice Markfield, to a fellow daycare teacher and to the children. Dallice provides the Smerinthus ophthalmica image at the top of the page. The moth was first spotted by a fellow teacher, and it caught the interest of the daycare children who asked how long the moth would live.

I replied, helping with identification, "This moth is one of the Sphingidae, Smerinthus ophthalmica. The adult moths of this species have no mouth parts or feeding tubes and only live as adults for about 7-10 days until they have used up all their energy reserves. The female ophthalmica has a 5mm feeding tube which I think is non-functional. Some Sphingidae species have a much longer feeding tube and have a longer (about one month) adult moth life span, as they can imbibe nectar from flowers through the feeding tube, but not this species which does not feed as an adult moth.

I do not know if this species has a common name as it was long treated as a synonym of Smerinthus cerisyi whose common name is the One-eyed Sphinx or Cerisy's Sphinx. Dallice has suggested this one will go by the name of Western One-eyed Sphinx, at least at the daycare facility. There is another very similar species from Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, and extreme southern California known as the Salicet Sphinx.

I am pretty sure that Dallice and the children are going to try to raise some of the caterpillars that hatch from the yellow eggs in the photo, and I wish them luck.

Seventeen Sphingidae species are listed for Washington. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Snohomish County in northern Washington. It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.

The Cascades seem to be a barrier to some of the more eastern species.

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported in USGS 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.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Snohomish County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is or might be present.

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.

If you are a travellor, you can access similar pages for all Washington counties, all US states and Canadian provinces and all other countries in North, Central and South America via the links at Sphingidae of the Americas.
You can access similar pages for Catocala (unerwing) moths at North American Catocala.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is possibly present (unreported) and larvae feed on tomatoes and go by the common name of "Tomato Hornworms". Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx There is a broad greyish-white forewing costal area. Most of the rest of the forewing is a dark slate grey with some thin black streaks. There are some white areas near the outer margin. Sphinx perelegans WO, the Elegant Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark grey to black with a paler costa and pale area from the base to the wing's centre. Prefered habitats include montane woodlands and mixed chaparral-type vegetation. 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 WO, the Big Poplar Sphinx. This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. If you've got willows or poplars nearby, then you probably have occidentalis in your immediate area. generally more southerly in Washington Paonias excaecata USGS, 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. Smerinthus opthalmica MPNwDM Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, which it replaces in WA. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin. Smerinthus opthalmica, Lynnwood, May 7, 2019, courtesy of Dallice Markfield Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thetis WO, the Thetis Clearwing Hemaris thetis is a very variable species, but almost always the abdomen sports contrasting black and yellow hairs, the ventral surface being quite black. The legs also tend to be quite dark and there is a black mask running across the eye and along the sides of the thorax. Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing, Many gardeners mistake this moth for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through a long feeding tube. Flight is probably from late May-July and possibly again in the fall. possibility Macroglossini tribe: Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx There is a broad, irregular, creamy-white band running diagonally across the dull brown forewing. There is a grey area along the fw outer margin. Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx This species is very widespread. It can be seen flying during the day, into the evening and also at night. The highly variable larvae are often found in people's gardens. Proserpinus clarkiae USGS, Clark's Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is greenish gray; the median area may be dark or pale. The upperside of the hindwing is bright orangish yellow with black borders. This day flier, April-June, prefers oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills. Moths nectar at a variety of flowers in the afternoon. Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, the Yellow-banded Day Sphinx Fw upperside is medium to dark brown with a faint to distinct white median band. Hw upperside is dark brown with a wide orange median band which may not reach the inner margin. The moth mimics a bumblebee.

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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Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

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