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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Sphinginae » Sphingini » Manduca » Carolina Sphinx - Hodges#7775 (Manduca sexta)
Photo#841169
Awesome Hawk Moth - Manduca sexta
Copyright © 2013 Pluviophile

Awesome Hawk Moth - Manduca sexta
Burbank, Los Angeles County, California, USA
September 13, 2013
Size: 3 inches-ish
Can anyone tell me if this is a pink-spotted hawk moth (Agrius cingulata) or a tomato hornworm (Manduca sexta)? I found him/her on my ogre's ear crassula in the morning. Sorry no open wing shots... I didn't want to disturb him/her. This is the largest moth I've ever seen!
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Contributed by Pluviophile on 13 September, 2013 - 12:32pm
Last updated 11 October, 2013 - 1:44pm

Moved
Moved from Moths.
… Paul Dennehy, 11 October, 2013 - 1:44pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… john and jane balaban, 5 October, 2013 - 6:21pm login or register to post comments

It is a Carolina Sphinx Moth (Manduca sexta)
Compare, especially the pattern on the thorax:
… Alex Harman, 13 September, 2013 - 4:33pm login or register to post comments

 
In California?
I didn't realize their range extends this far west. I purposely allow a few different Solanaceae plants to grow around the yard in hopes of attracting hawk/sphinx moths. Usually I only see the white-lined sphinx. This moth dwarfed those!
… Pluviophile, 13 September, 2013 - 4:46pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes,
if you go to the species and click data (at the top), you can see where contributers have added images (although this often doesn't encompass its full range). In CA it is recorded May through November.
… Alex Harman, 13 September, 2013 - 5:42pm login or register to post comments

 
Fantastic!
Thank you!
… Pluviophile, 13 September, 2013 - 5:57pm login or register to post comments

No open wing shots = probably no ID
Sorry, but the abdomen tends to be the key characteristic. Wing pattern is highly variable and can be similar in a number of species. A moth expert may have a guess, but no promises.
… Natalie Hernandez, 13 September, 2013 - 2:43pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Hi Natalie,
Thanks a lot. That's kind of what I thought. Maybe she'll still be there when I get home and I can coax her to show me her abdomen.

Cheers!
… Pluviophile, 13 September, 2013 - 2:47pm login or register to post comments

 
Post it if she does!
:)
… Natalie Hernandez, 13 September, 2013 - 2:58pm login or register to post comments

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