One-eyed Sphinx Moth
Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
July 4, 2011 3:16 pm
I noticed this male One-eyed Sphinx moth (or at least I’m reasonably sure that’s what it is) near the front door of the Nature Centre where I work this morning. I know you have plenty of pictures of these already, but I thought you’d probably be getting other questions about them around this time of year so I’m sending it along in case it’s useful. Thanks for the great site — I check it very regularly.
Signature: Diane
One Eyed Sphinx
Hi Diane,
We can always find room for beautiful photographs, and we are pleased to include your photo of a One Eyed Sphinx, Smerinthus cerisyi, in our archives.
¶ Posted 05 July 2011 § ‡ ° What is this bug !!!!!
Location: Staffordshire, UK
July 4, 2011 7:03 am
I found this on my shed soaking up the sunshine, its about 2+ inches long and quite ugly !!!!
Signature: Lindsey ! Staffordshire
Poplar Hawkmoth
Hi Lindsey,
This Poplar Hawkmoth, Laothoe populi, is the first possibility on the Beginner’s Top Twenty of the UK Moths website.
¶ Posted 04 July 2011 § ‡ ° what is this?
Location: Honolulu Manoa Valley
July 3, 2011 3:20 pm
Found this caterpillar in my yard in Manoa Valley in Honolulu, Hawaii in some ginger and monstera and next to a crown flowers tree.
Signature: Beth
Pink Spotted Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Hi Beth,
The Pink Spotted Hawkmoth Caterpillar, Agrius cingulata, is also found throughout much of North, Central and South America and it was most likely introduced to Hawaii. The caterpillar is highly variable, and the Sphingidae of the Americas website does not depict this particular variation on the standard species page, however is you scroll down the Sphingidae of the Americas Hawaii page, you will see an example of this color variation.
Thanks for the quick identification! Am checking the sites you mention and googling others to see what else I can learn about this caterpillar. I see it is also referred to as the sweet potato hawkmoth. Do they feed on sweet potato? I am growing a lot of sweet potatoes in my garden. But I found this one over by my ginger. Also near my crown flower tree. I know the monarchs like the crown flower.
Do you know what this species eats? Or anything more about their life cycle.
Aloha,
Beth
Hi again Beth,
According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas), jimsonweed (Datura spp.), pawpaw (Asimina spp.), and other plants in the Potato (Solanaceae) and Morning-glory (Convolvulaceae) families. Adults take nectar from deep-throated flowers such as morning-glory (Convolvulus spp).”
¶ Posted 03 July 2011 § ‡ ° What is this?
Location: Central Indiana
July 1, 2011 5:57 am
The bug in the picture was on our Buterfly bush a few days ago. I was trying to landscape around the bush when I saw them. Do we need to be worried about them?
Thanks
Signature: Pete
Snowberry Clearwing
Hi Pete,
Of the three species of diurnal Sphinx Moths in the genus Hemaris that are listed as ranging in Indiana according to the Sphingidae of the Americas website, we believe this most resembles Hemaris diffinis, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. They are harmless pollinators that are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds.
¶ Posted 01 July 2011 § ‡ ° Camouflage Bug
ILocation: A farm stand in Northern NJ
June 20, 2011 4:02 pm
This was a bug on a screen at a farm we were at in northern NJ on June 20th. Didn’t realize it was real at first, thought it was a leaf!
Signature: Beth Marks
Pandora Sphinx
Dear Beth,
The olive markings on the Pandora Sphinx or Pandorus Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, really do resemble the markings on camouflage fatigues, and you are not the first person who has noted that. Nocturnal Sphinx Moths often come to rest during the day near light sources, only to fly away again when night falls again.
¶ Posted 21 June 2011 § ‡ ° whats this
Location: Ireland
June 19, 2011 5:37 am
I found this bug in my back yard. I was wondering what its called
Signature: Mr
Elephant Hawkmoth
Dear Mr,
This lovely moth is known as an Elephant Hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor, and according to the UK MOths website: “The English name of this moth is derived from the caterpillar’s fanciful resemblance to an elephant’s trunk. The adults are attractively coloured pink and green affairs, with a streamlined appearance. They fly from May to July, visiting flowers such as honeysuckle (Lonicera) for nectar. The larvae feed mainly on rosebay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium), but also other plants as well, including bedstraw (Galium). It is a common species in most of Britain, including Scotland, where it has increased its range in recent years.”
¶ Posted 19 June 2011 § ‡ ° Moth
Location: Eastrn Washington
June 13, 2011 11:56 pm
Hello
Hope you had a good holiday!
Found this moth on my house. Is it a Sphinx moth…found pics of them but not quite like this one. Comparing to the Sphinx the head is a different shape as is the end of the body..flat instead of pointed. Any thoughts??
Signature: Lynda R
Blinded Sphinx
Hi Lynda,
As we feebly attempt to put a dent in all the identification requests we received during our week away from the office, we are trying to post the most beautiful images of the most significant sightings. You were very astute to determine that this is a Sphinx Moth in the family Sphingidae. According to BugGuide, there are 124 North American species, and there is a great deal of diversity within the family, however, the general wing shape and body shape is relatively consistent. This is a Blinded Sphinx, Paonias excaecata, and you may read more about the species on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
¶ Posted 16 June 2011 § ‡ ° Vine Sphinx Moth in SE Texas?
Location: Liberty County, Texas
June 11, 2011 6:49 pm
Found this beauty on the passenger front tire of my ’72 Imperial. Spent some time looking on the site, and found a pic of a Vine Sphinx another contributor had sent in, and it was the closest match. Many thanks for the great site
Signature: Johnny in Texas
Banded Sphinx
Dear Johnny,
We ourselves often have a very difficult time distinguishing between two species, the Vine Sphinx, Eumorpha vitis, and the Banded Sphinx, Eumorpha fasciatus, and we believe this moth is the Banded Sphinx. According to the Sphingidae of the Americas website, the two species are both found in Texas, and you may compare your moth to the images posted there. The Sphingidae of the Americas page on the Vine Sphinx offers this means to distinguish between the species: “The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin, but lacks the pink along the outer margin, distinguishing it from fasciata.
Note the large brown “parallelogram” between lowest of three striga upwards toward the transverse lines. In E. fasciatus this same area is very small, almost non-existent.” On BugGuide, the Banded Sphinx is described as having: “Strong white bands on wings. Brown band on costa (leading edge of forewing) distinguishes from the similar, less widespread, Vine Sphinx, E. vitis.” Your moth appears to have that brown band on the leading edge of the forewing, hence our opinion that this is a Banded Sphinx.
¶ Posted 15 June 2011 § ‡ ° 
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