Cerisy’s Sphinx?
Location: Vernon, BC
July 23, 2011 4:40 pm
I found this moth at a summer camp in Vernon, BC, Canada, at 10:00am, on July 23, 2011. It was on the steps of one of the buildings; it was a little sluggish but I managed to move it to a nearby stump so it wouldn’t be stepped on (which is where I took the picture). Is it a Cerisy’s Sphinx moth?
Signature: S. Lowen
Cerisy's Sphinx or One Eyed Sphinx
Dear S. Lowen,
We concur with your identification of Cerisy’s Sphinx, Smerinthus cerisyi, which is also known as the One Eyed Sphinx. You may read more on the species on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
¶ Posted 24 July 2011 § ‡ ° saliceti, cerisyi, excaecatus?
Location: Tonasket, WA
July 23, 2011 12:03 pm
Researching this makes me appreciate what bug enthusiasts go thru. Really need to be detail oriented! I ruled out smerinthus saliceti because we seem to be too far north and s. cersyi because no center black eyespot and both of them have straight sides to the central brown patch on their heads instead of hourglass and the shape of the pattern of the forewing near the head is more convoluted. PHEW! So, I’m thinking Blinded Sphinx, Paonias Excaecatus, although??? And on the side view, are those long filaments coming out of the mouth?! Thanks so much.
Signature: Cathy
Blinded Sphinx
Hi Cathy,
We feel your anxiety over getting a proper identification when numerous different species seem to all look so similar. We agree with your final decision that this is a Blinded Sphinx. In our opinion, the best place to Identify Sphinx Moths is on Bill Oehlke’s Sphingidae of the Americas website. You can actually disaggregate the species that have been reported from Washington and that should make future identifications easier.
¶ Posted 23 July 2011 § ‡ ° Leaf-colored Moth?
Location: Nashport, Ohio
July 23, 2011 6:37 am
Was hoping you could identify this one for me and my two young girls. Just moved to Central Ohio and found this guy in our front yard at about 8 AM. We live near a wooded area and water. Was around 75 degrees that morning.
Signature: Tonya B.
Pandora Sphinx
Hi Tonya,
The markings and coloration of the Pandora Sphinx, the species you photographed, are frequently likened to the print on camouflage fatigues.
¶ Posted 23 July 2011 § ‡ ° Black & Beige VERY LARGE insect..
Location: South Florida
July 21, 2011 7:05 am
Am located in South Florida and this insect was on my screen for the entire day. It is approxiamtely 2 1/2” long and is beieg and black. Hopefully, someone will be able to identify it for me. Thanks.
Signature: Terri
Banded Sphinx
Hi Terri,
There are two closely related Sphinx Moths in the genus Eumorpha that look very similar, and they are easily confused. You have a Banded Sphinx, Eumorpha fasciatus, and you may read about it on the Sphingidae of the Americas website. BugGuide also has a nice description of the species. The caterpillars feed on plants in the primrose family.
¶ Posted 21 July 2011 § ‡ ° Two Sphinx Moths
Location: Sidney, Maine
July 19, 2011 3:31 pm
I’ve been trying to find and identify the different moths around my house, but am a bit stuck with these two. One I THINK may be a Catalpa Sphinx, while the other I have no clue on. Any hints on the mystery sphinx and am I right about the other being a Catalpa?
Signature: Steve
Waved Sphinx
Hi Steve,
We believe we have identified both of your Sphinx Moths thanks to the Sphingidae of the Americas Maine page. The individual you believed to be a Catalpa Sphinx is more likely another member of the same genus, the Elm Sphinx or Four Horned Sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor, based on the photos on the Sphingidae of the Americas site. We believe your second moth is the Northern Pine Sphinx, Lapara bombycoides, which is also pictured on the Sphingidae of the Americas site. Just to be certain, we will contact Bill Oehlke to get his opinion.
Northern Pine Sphinx
Thank you! I considered Northern Pine Sphinx, but was not sure and had not even considered that the other might be an Elm Sphinx!
Steve Lemieux
Bill Oehlke provides a correction
Hi Daniel,
The Ceratomia is undulosa (Waved Sphinx) not amyntor (Elm Sphinx).
You are correct about the Northern Pine Sphinx, Lapara bombycoides
Please ask Steve to contact me or provide his email address
Bill Oehlke
¶ Posted 20 July 2011 § ‡ ° Moth in West Virginia
Location: Cabins West Virginia
July 18, 2011 3:47 pm
While on vacation in Cabins, West Virginia last week I had some company waiting on the front porch one morning. I believe one moth was the Imperial Moth and the other one remains a mystery to me. Any help you may be able to give me would be greatly appreicated. I am so glad I found your site it it WONDERFUL!
Signature: Priscilla
Walnut Sphinx
Dear Priscilla,
You are correct about the Imperial Moth and the other is a Walnut Sphinx, Amorpha juglandis, which we verified by researching it on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
¶ Posted 18 July 2011 § ‡ ° Colorful moth?
Location: Stavanger, on the south-west coast of Norway
July 12, 2011 7:06 am
Hi. I stumbled across (almost stepped on) this little fella on my way hom from the shops. I suppose it’s some kind of moth. It’s 4-5cm from head to tail and was sitting on the ground. Can you help me with more information? Very pretty!
Signature: Aslak, Norway
Elephant Hawkmoth
Dear Aslak,
This lovely European moth is an Elephant Hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor. You may compare your photo on the UK Moths website. We are scheduled for a short holiday, and in anticipation for being out of the office for a few days, we are preparing some letters to post while we are gone. Your letter will go live Friday morning.
¶ Posted 15 July 2011 § ‡ ° moth id
Location: Glendale, Arizona
July 13, 2011 6:09 pm
i saw this moth on my porch
i wanted to know what kind it is
i’ve never seen a moth this big before
Signature: Levi
Rustic Sphinx
Hi Levi,
This beautiful moth is a Rustic Sphinx, and though it has a much greater range, most of our reports tend to come from Arizona.
¶ Posted 14 July 2011 § ‡ ° 
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