a picture for you
Bugman,
this is an unidentified sphinx that I suspect is in the genus Eumorpha but doesn’t match the plates in Covell. I photographed it around June 25 at my porch located at 3500 feet elevation in the blue ridge mountains of nw North Carolina. Any help with id would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
J. M. Lynch
hi J.M.,
Your mysterious Sphinx most closely resembles the Achemon Sphinx, Eumorpha achemon, that ranges in North Carolina, but the markings don’t look correct. The camera angle of your photo is not ideal for exact identification as there is some perspective distortion that could be confusing both of us. We will be copying a true Sphingidae expert, Bill Oehlke, to see if he can provide a conclusive identification for both you and our site. If this is a new species in North Carolina, Bill will be most excited to include it in his comprehensive species distribution statistics. We eagerly await Bill Oehlke’s response.
Identification
Hi Daniel, The mysterious NC sphinx is Darapsa myron. Are you posting these images somewhere that I can visit them? I already have check lists for all of the states and provinces. Now I am trying to get to the county level. The data really is of no use to me unless I can ascertain the county.
Bill Oehlke
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Posted 02 July 2008
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zoomed in pic of moth
Hi bugman,
I wrote a week ago asking what kind of moth this was. I was looking at the pic I emailed in and noticed I couldn’t zoom in very much before it got blurry. So I cropped the original (I was too lazy to get my hard drive out and get the original the first time.) So here is a better zoom in of it. Like I said before we found it in our front yard on a rose bush, and we live in Turkey, close to Adana. I thought it was such a beautiful moth. Thanks,
Steph
Hi Steph,
Thanks for resending your photo of an Oleander Hawk Moth, Deilephila nerii or Daphnis nerii. This truly beautiful moth has an extensive range due to the use of its larval food plant, the Oleander, in landscaping. Bill Oehlke has the following information posted to his awesome website: “primarily associated with ‘the southern Mediterranean region, North Africa and the Middle East to Afghanistan (Ebert, 1969). Along the Mediterranean, there is no clear distinction between resident and migrant populations. Permanent populations exist in suitable locations in Sicily, Crete and Cyprus; however, over a number of favourable years further colonies may be established in those islands and also in southern Italy and southern Greece, all of which die out during a hard winter.’ and ‘Extra-limital range. From Afghanistan eastward to south-east Asia and the Philippines; as a migrant, it penetrates northwards into central Europe and central southern Asia. In 1974, this species was recorded as having established itself in Hawaii (Beardsley, 1979).’ “
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Posted 29 June 2008
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Bug Love picture from Georgia
I snapped a couple of pics of two moths mating yesterday. I really like this one: underneath this one isn’t as dynamic: topside I included links to the flickr photostream too. They look like Cerisy Sphinxes from what I saw on your site. Feel free to use this pictures if you’d like. Thanks for running a great site,
Casey Willis
Hi Casey,
Bill Oehlke’s website doesn’t list Cerisy’s Sphinx in Georgia. These are Blinded Sphinxes, Paonias excaecata. You can also read about the Blinded Sphinx on Bill Oehlke’s website.
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Posted 26 June 2008
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Tagged: bug love
Hi there and thanks for your informative site
As best as I can see – the moths on my front porch today are Modest Sphinxes – they do not seem to have the distinct battle colors of the Cerisy’s. We live in the country east of Parker Colorado
Don Mackenzie
Hi Don,
Your photo is breathtakingly beautiful. This is a species closely related to the Modest Sphinx. It is the Big Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx occidentalis, the pale color form. Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website has some nice images of this beautiful moth. We have also heard it called the Western Poplar Sphinx.
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Posted 21 June 2008
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Tagged: bug love
My kids found the Moth or Butterfly outside our front door. They want me to identify it. Please help me look like a smart momma. Thanks,
D’Lonna
Texas
Hi D’Lonna
The fact that you cared enough to research on the internet makes you a smart momma. This moth is a Vine Sphinx, Eumorpha vitis. It is a wide ranging species that can be found in Argentina up through the souther United States, and it occasionally strays as far north as Nebraska according to Bill Oehlke’s excellent website. The caterpillar feeds on vines, and is especially fond of grape
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Posted 19 June 2008
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A sphinx moth of some sort?
Hi
Found this hanging on a lavender bush in my garden today. We live just south of Vancouver BC near the Washington border. It is similar in size to other sphinx moths I have seen at Adams Lake BC, but a different colour. Can you help? Thanks
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
Your moth is a Blinded Sphinx, Paonias excaecata. You can read more on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.
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Posted 16 June 2008
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Dear Bugman,
I found this moth on my living room window screen here in the Sierra Nevadas of Northeastern California. I looked through your photos of Sphinx moths and did not find one like him. Can you tell me what he is? I also had the pleasure of finding a Ceanothus Silk moth on the wall of my house the other day! I will attach a couple photos for you! Thank You,
Carrie Baum
Susanville , CA
Hi Carrie,
We probably had still not posted the image we received from Canada on June 9 of a Wild Cherry Sphinx, Sphinx drupiferarum. That image showed the resting position and it is great that you have supplied us with an image of the underwings as well as a finger for scale.
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Posted 11 June 2008
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Large Moth
We live near Kelowna, BC. I found this large moth resting on my fence one morning, and cannot identify it. Any suggestions?
Thanks, in advance.
Howard
Hi Howard,
Your large moth is a Wild Cherry Sphinx, Sphinx drupiferarum, and you can read up on it on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.
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Posted 09 June 2008
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what’s this?
Hi
I write for a local news paper on the Outer Banks of N.C. I spotted this fascinating creature on the beach, perched on the piling under a pier. Any idea what it is? Thanks for your help.
Megan Shaw
Hi Megan,
We hope our little trip home to hot and humid Ohio to plant tomatoes for mom did not interfere with you doing a newspaper article on the lovely Pandorus Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus. The Pandorus Sphinx is sometimes mistaken for a hummingbird because of its color, shape and flight pattern. Caterpillars feed on grape and Virginia creeper.
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Posted 05 June 2008
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Nessus Sphinx, Amphion floridensis?
I was just given your site when trying to find the identity of this moth. I see from other shots that it appears to be a Nessus Sphinx – am I right, and is this unusual for northern illinois, as I’ve never seen one before in this area. Thanks, enjoyed you site very much – thought you might like the pictures….
Bill Gigliotti
hi Bill,
Your identification of the Nessus Sphinx is correct. Bill Oehlke’s website lists Illinois as withing the typical range.
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Posted 03 June 2008
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Moth?
I found this bug (moth?) at the front door at work this morning. It didn’t move for about 6 hours so I tapped it and holy crap it grew eye balls and changed colors. Any idea what this is? Regards
Chris Burtis
Auburn, WA
hi Chris,
Your moth is known as the One Eyed Sphinx.
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Posted 28 May 2008
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Nessus Sphinx Moth ?
Hi there,
I saw this little guy buzzing around my garden this morning until it landed on a dwarf spruce tree and stayed in the same spot for about 4 hours letting me take numerous pictures of him. Was he tired? I live 20 feet from the open water of Lake St. Clair, Michigan in New Baltimore, Michigan which is about 35 miles northeast of Detroit. I believe to be a Nessus Sphinx moth. I have attached some pictures. Can you confirm? Thanks.
Linda Schmitt
Hi Linda,
Your identification of the Nessus Sphinx, Amphion floridensis, is correct. The best place to identify sphinx moths is Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.
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Posted 25 May 2008
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