Two Late Sphinx Moth Records

I apologize for the dearth of posts this past season, but I’ve been fighting various tech issues this past summer. Of course, now that the season has pretty much passed, I think I finally have everything resolved.

Jonathan Nikkila’s insect investigation network has discovered a couple of amazing sphinx moth records. On September 5 Emily Witter sent Jonathan a crayon picture her children had drawn of a moth they had found at the Overton Golf Course (in Dawson County). Curious, the next day Jonathan drove out to investigate. The moth was right where they had seen it the previous day but unfortunately it had been driven over by a mower. While suffering some serious damage it was still recognizable as a Gaudy Sphinx (Amorpha labruscae), reported only once previously in the state (Franklin County). Jonathan retrieved it and gave it to me. I contacted Steve Spomer at UNL who said the university would gladly take it for their museum collection even in its sad state. Thanks again to Emily, Azalea and Ezekiel Witter and Jonathan Nikkila.

Then on September 15 Jonathan was contacted by Shelly Rodehorst who had found a strange moth in her yard in Kearney and took a picture of it. Jonathan rushed over to retrieve it but of course by that time it had moved on. But they had the picture as proof positive and once again it was a rare stray from more southerly climes, this time a Banded Sphinx (Eumorpha fasciatus) with this being only the third sighting in the state. Thanks again to all involved (Shelly and Jonathan) in reporting this amazing find.