Subject: What kind of moths are these?
Location: East Coulee Alberta
May 27, 2016 8:26 pm
These two were spotted east of Drumheller Alberta. Im curious what they are called.
Signature: Curious Kim
Dear Curious Kim,
We turned to the Sphingidae of the Americas site to verify the identity of your mating Sphinx Moths, and we have determined that they are mating Modest Sphinxes, Pachysphinx modesta, and we are amused at their seemingly immodest behavior. The species is also called the Poplar Sphinx, and it resembles a closely related species, Pachysphinx occidentalis, which has been “delisted” on the species from Alberta page of Sphingidae of the Americas. Interestingly the species page on Sphingidae of the Americas still states: “Pachysphinx occidentalis occidentalis, the Big Poplar Sphinx (Wing span: 5 1/8 – 5 7/8 inches (13 – 15 cm)), flies in riparian areas and suburbs from Alberta and North Dakota west to eastern Washington; south to Texas, Arizona, southern California, and Baja California Norte.” We will attempt to contact Bill Oehlke to see if he can provide a conclusive identification and perhaps indicate why the second species was “delisted.”
I found on on the front door post at my vacation home in Surrency, Ga., and was about to sweep it off, thinking it was a browned leaf! Have since kept it as my cover on my phone face. Still not sure exactly which sphinx moth it is, because it is darker brown than all the others I’ve seen on the web.
Another I still have not found looks like the head of an ocean stingray or bat looking back at me.
Thank you!
I found on on the front door post at my vacation home in Surrency, Ga., and was about to sweep it off, thinking it was a browned leaf! Have since kept it as my cover on my phone face. Still not sure exactly which sphinx moth it is, because it is darker brown than all the others I’ve seen on the web.
Another I still have not found looks like the head of an ocean stingray or bat looking back at me.
Thank you!