Subject: moth identification
Location: ear Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast in BC
July 19, 2014 2:26 pm
Hi There. This moth came to visit us one evening in late June. It was quite beautiful! About 7 cm across from wing tip to wing tip. Can you tell us what it is?
Thank you
Signature: Jackie
Hi Jackie,
We confirmed the identity of your Sphinx Moth as Smerinthus ophthalmica thanks to the Sphingidae of the Americas website. Alas, you moth does not have a common name, though Sphinx Moth and Hawkmoth are names to describe the members of the family. According to Pacific Northwest Moths: “They are nocturnal and come to light. This species is common at porch lights. The mouthparts are reduced and the moths do not feed as adults.”