Numerous Sphinx Moths have been sighted in the past month, eight of them county records which I will attempt to acknowledge here.
From the state fair 4H collections Steve Spomer reports Hagen’s Sphinx (Ceratomia hageni) and Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis) collected by Jeff Burgess in Grant Co. and (Hyles euphorbiae) from Keith Co. by Jacob Fote. Sorry – no pics
Eli Weber spent the summer censusing moths at Cedar Point Biological Station in Keith County and found four county records, the first being the Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis).
His second county record was the Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron).
Next, on June 7, a box turtle researcher (Emma Wertz) photographed a Juanita Sphinx (Proserpinus juanita). This rarely sighted day flier appears to be restricted to the western half of the state where its larval hostplants (members of the primrose family) grow in abundance.
Eli’s last Sphinx Moth county record was a Big Poplar Sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta), first sighted on June 10.
Last but not least on September 14 Natalie Butterfield photographed a Pink-spotted Sphinx (Agrias cingulata) in Holt Co. This southern stray is most frequently sighted in the eastern half of the state. But that could be because there are more observers there.
Thanks to Eli and Natalie for their contributions.