Strange Moth found in Michigan
July 31, 2009
I found this moth while on vacation in the upper peninsula of Michigan and had to photograph it. This was during the summer. Since the photos were taken a few years ago, I don’t remember the exact size, but I estimate it to be around 1.5 inches long. I’ve been trying to find it online and so far I think it’s either some kind of sphinx moth, or a silk moth, but I’m having trouble identifying it. Any ideas?
Kevin
Crystal Falls, Michigan (Upper Peninsula)
Hi Kevin,
We just posted an image of a One Eyed Sphinx a few minutes ago, and this is a closely related species, the Twin Spotted Sphinx, Smerinthus jamaicensis. Here is how Bill Oehlke distinguishes the two species from one another: “Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. Also note the complete (i.e. outer margin to outer margin) off-white arc just below the forewing apex. In S. cerisyi the lower portion of the arc does not return to the outer margin.”