Lintneria smithi courtesy of Bruce Walsh.

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802 Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Lintneria Butler, 1876 ........... Species: smithi (Cadiou, 1998)

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DISTRIBUTION:

Smith's Sphinx, Lintneria smithi (Wing span: approx. 85 mm;; forewing length: males: 34-49; females: 41-42), flies in northwestern Mexico, southeastern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.

Until very recently (Tuttle: The Hawk Moths of North America, 2007), this moth was classified as Sphinx smithi.

Jean Haxaire and Ian Kitching confirm that as of May 2015, populations of Lintneria smithi are probably limited to northern Mexico: Sonora; Chihuahua. Jean therefore thinks the larvae from Tlalpujaha, Michoacan, that I had tentatively identified as L. smithi are more likely S. lugens.

"Most similar in pattern to Lintneria xantus, but structurally more similar to Lintneria lugens. Smaller than both Lintneria xantus and Lintneria lugens; forewing shorter, more rounded apically than in Lintneria xantus; hindwing shorter than in Lintneria xantus.

"Forewing upperside differs from Lintneria xantus in having the pale area that separates the dark apical line from the dark longitudinal pattern posterior to it on the outer margin smaller; no white double chevron midway along hind margin. The pattern more sharply contrasting than in Lintneria lugens, with a larger proportion of pale areas; the pale marginal area broader near the tornus; the area on the hind margin just distal to the subbasal lines paler and more extensive than in Lintneria lugens; fringe more extensively white.

"Forewing underside basal area paler than in Lintneria xantus; the postdiscal band whiter and broader.

"Hindwing upperside with black basal area more extensive than in Lintneria xantus; the postdiscal white band narrower and more sinuate." CATE

FLIGHT TIMES:

Lintneria smithi adults fly

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at a variety of flowers.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on mints (Salvia) and are mottled white and grey-brown with a purplish tint.

L. smithi, courtesy of Bruce Walsh.

Lintneria fifth instar, Tlalpujaha, Michoacan, Mexico,
possibly L. smithi (BO), more likely L. lugens (JH), 2012, 2500m, courtesy of Juan Carlos Garcia.

Lintneria fourth or fifth instar, Tlalpujaha, Michoacan, Mexico,
possibly L. smithi (BO), more likely L. lugens (JH), 2012, 2500m, courtesy of Juan Carlos Garcia.

Please visit my special request for images of Lintneria species larvae at Lintneria larvae, and help if you can.

It is anticipated that the Lintneria larvae will most often be encountered on Lamiaceae: Salvia (Sage), Mentha (Mints), Monarda (Beebalm) and Hyptis (Bushmints); Verbenaceae: Verbena and Lantana camara (shrub verbenas or lantanas).

Although they may be encountered feeding during daylight hours, one is even more likely to discover them feeding in the evening or after dark.

Two of the greatest clues for discovering larvae are stripped foliage and droppings beneath the plant. You might be quite surprised at what will turn up in the evening or after dark in a flashlight assisted search.

It is believed that all "Lintneria larvae will exhibit "a fleshy thoracic dorsal "horn" in the first 4 instars (unique in the Sphingidae of the world to my knowledge) which is replaced by a thoracic dorsal "hump" with a large black patch in the 5th instar." J.A. Tuttle.

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