Subject: Moth ID
Geographic location of the bug: Long Beach, CA
Date: 04/10/2018
Time: 10:16 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Hello –
This moth has been visiting my front porch for the last 12 hours or so. I haven’t been able to get a photo with wings open yet, but from what i can see the markings looks like a whitelined sphinx to me. What do you think?
Thanks a lot for the help!
How you want your letter signed: Laurie
Dear Laurie,
This Whitelined Sphinx Moth or Striped Morning Sphinx is one of the most common, large, Southern California Moths and indications are that they are flying in Southern California now. Just last evening Daniel watched a female ovipositing on the leaves of the sprouting primroses in the garden, and this morning there is one resting on the screen door. This species tends to fly at dawn and dusk, and it is not unusual for an individual to rest for a day or more before taking flight again.