Please help identify moth
July 25, 2009
I found this moth on my screen and am wondering if you could help identify it.
Anita
Southern Vermont
Small Eyed Sphinx
Hi Anita,
Your moth is known as a Small Eyed Sphinx, Paonias myops. It is so named because the underwings which are not visible in your photo have eyespots. According to Bill Oehkle’s awesome website: “Small-eyed Sphinx females call in the night flying males with an airbourne pheromone emitted from a gland at the posterior of the abdomen. Both sexes rest with wings parallel to the resting surface, with the upper lobes of the hindwings protruding above the forewings. The lower abdomen of the male (right) arcs upward toward the head, while the abdomen of the female hangs strait down on a vertical surface.“ That means your specimen is a female. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling on North American Sphinx Moths.
¶ Posted 26 July 2009 § ‡ ° Moth
July 25, 2009
I found what I believe to be a moth of some type. I don’t remember seeing one like before and was unable to identify it from your website. It was approx. two inches long and had the appearance of being covered with fur.
Richard
North Middle Tennessee, USA
Tersa Sphinx
Hi Richard,
This is a Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa, one of the most aerodynamically engineered of the Sphinx Moths in the family Sphingidae, a family characterized by its members’ powerful flight capabilities. You can read more about the Tersa Sphinx on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website. We will be copying Bill on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling on members of this family.
1
¶ Posted 25 July 2009 § ‡ ° New For Me
July 23, 2009
I saw this on a plant that my sister bought. It was there for the better part of a day. I never saw this before. I think it is a moth, but that’s all I can figure, and I can’t find its likeness anywhere.
Buzz
Warwick, NY
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Hi Buzz,
We have been getting numerous images of Sphinx Moths this summer, as we do every summer, but this is the first image of a Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Darapsa myron, this year. You may read more on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.
¶ Posted 24 July 2009 § ‡ ° what is this moth?
July 22, 2009
I was on vacation a few days ago, and i came across this beautiful lepidopterid. I’ve had a hard time identifying it, so i was hoping to find an answer here. Thanks!
Rob
Saratoga County, New York
Wild Cherry Sphinx
Hi Rob,
While it is not as colorful as other members in the family Sphingidae, this Wild Cherry Sphinx, Sphinx drupiferarum, has lovely markings. According to Bill Oehlke’s awesome website: “Sphinx drupiferarum larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night.“
¶ Posted 22 July 2009 § ‡ ° Big Fuzzy Brown Moth
July 21, 2009
I finally got my first bug ID request through…(I think my picture resolutions were too big).
And now I just want to share a couple pictures of what I think is one of those hummingbird or sphinx moths, but I’m really not sure.
I’ve only seen them flying and this one had a leg broken off 
and seemed pretty clumsy. He had a wingspan of about 3in or so. VERY furry thorax (as you’ll see in one pic), huge eyes and long antennae, and orange spots down the sides of his abdomen.
I found him on my backyard deck. I took him out to a huge butterfly bush that they like to hang around and hope he made it ok! But I’m moving soon and couldn’t bring him in to care for him. :S I figured he’d probably be better in his environment anyway. 
Thanks for your awesome website! I’ve been amusing myself reading the Nasty Reader Awards. Lol.
Bethany
Santa Fe, NM
Five Spotted Hawkmoth
Hi Bethany,
Your moth is a Five Spotted Hawkmoth, Manduca quinquemaculata, one of two species whose caterpillars feed on the leaves of tomato plants and related solanaceous plants and are collectively known as Tomato Hornworms. You can read more about the Five Spotted Hawkmoth on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website. We are happy to hear that our Nasty Reader Awards amuse you since we were just “chastised” by our most recent recipient, Creeped Out, for writing things on our site that had nothing to do with identification.
¶ Posted 22 July 2009 § ‡ ° Is this a Tiger Moth?
July 21, 2009
I spotted this moth on a waste bin in London’s Docklands mid morning in may this year. After stopping our van assistant from kicking it,I took this photo of it. A knowall (we all know one!) told me it was a Tiger moth. However no pictures I have found of a Tiger moth have the same delta shape wing. It was about 4 inches across from tip to tip. Can you tell me what species of moth it is?
Alan Kent England
East London England
Lime Hawkmoth
Hi Alan,
This is a Lime Hawkmoth, Mimas tiliae. According to UKMoths, it is a common species in the southern half of Britain. We recently had a sighting in Pennsylvania, and there is documentation that the species has been sighted in Canada as well. This probably represents an accidental introduction or possibly an intentional release from captivity raised specimens. When we asked our readership to notify us of any additional North American sightings, we began to receive letters with photos of a similar appearing species without the scalloped wing edges, the Pandora Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, which were mistaken for the Lime Hawkmoth.
¶ Posted 22 July 2009 § ‡ ° Seen with honeybees
July 20, 2009
Hi, I spotted an unfamiliar insect in my privet hedge. These insects are approx 2cm in length. They have a hovering habit. They can be seen to unfurl a longish (1cm +) tongue into the tiny privet blossoms. My property is in a semi-rural setting surrounded by a greenbelt of mixed forest (spruce/balsam fir assorted hardwoods).
I have a new found respect for anyone who shoots bugs on the wing — these are the best of about 300 photos taken over 3 days! (Photos taken 20 July 2009)
Ian in Nova Scotia
Saint Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia approx 44deg 6min north latitude
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
Hi Ian,
This is a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe. On his excellent website, Bill Oehlke writes: “Hemaris thysbe, the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth or Common Clearwing (wingspan 38-50 mm), readily visits flowers by day throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, where it ranges far to the north, even into the Yukon. Ken Philip reports them in Alaska: Interior Alaska: Fairbanks vicinity; Southcentral Alaska: Index Lake. It is not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake an Hemaris thysbe moth for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through a long feeding tube. The moth hovers briefly, sipping for only a few seconds before darting off to a new flower. Green body “fur” and burgundy wing scales suggest a small ruby throated hummingbird.“
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
¶ Posted 20 July 2009 § ‡ ° Unknown Large Moth
July 17, 2009
Found today on July 17, 09. It mostly has gray coloring matching the local oak and pine trees. Its hind wings have brilliant burgundy markings. Would love to know what it is and any info you can give me. Thanks!!!
Miss. Bolding
South of Yosemite National Park, CA – At 25-2,600 ft. elevation
Western Poplar Sphinx
Dear Miss Bolding,
Your moth is a Western Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx occidentalis. It is found in western North America. There is a light and a dark form, and your moth is a lovely example of the light form.
Western Poplar Sphinx
¶ Posted 17 July 2009 § ‡ ° 
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