Hi Kathy K

The sphinx that you refer to is probably willow feeder (also,
indiscriminate on a wide variety of plants, I think) and
will do OK here. If you are looking in the Petersen Guide
by Charley Covell it will not give an accurate range in the
West (if the western range is mentioned at all). There are
several similar species and they are found in California,
Oregon, Washington, etc. Nice bug!! The eyes are
supposed to scare away predators with a "flash" response
if the camouflaged moth is disturbed.

In fact some folks put them in paper bags where it will lay
eggs and little thread-like caterpillars will emerge and can
be fed on willow and raised without too much trouble.

It is a relative, so to speak, of the Tomato
Hornworm.

Bob Taylor
Sumner, WA, USA
taylorrt at msn.com


----- Original Message -----
From: <Flwrwm at aol.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2000 11:26 PM
Subject: Sphinx Moth


> Hi Tweets!
> I've exhausted my options in finding out what and why a Twin-Spotted
Sphinx
> Moth is in Auburn, Wa. Maybe Ruth could give me a link ? This Moth is
the
> size of
> a hummingbird! My daughter and I found it on the side of a grocery store
in
> Edgewood, Wa. It was on a brick wall. We carefully captured it and took
it
> home to set it free in our surrounding woods. But after researching this
> moth it seems
> it's range is from Nova Scotia to No. Florida. Could have possibly
hitched a
> ride
> on a produce truck??? It looks to be a female and in good health . If
in
> fact it is rare, who would I report it too? We plan on letting it go if
it
> will live out the rest of it's adult lifespan in our neck of the woods,
in
> the next couple of days at most.
> But would like some info first. If anyone would like to see it or could
use
> it (alive) please e-mail me. Never saw such a huge, beautiful and
wonderous
> moth such as this. (sorry for the non-bird question, but it does fly with
> wings , hee-hee!
>
> In remembrance,
> I will miss Jim's Lyle's exciting posts very much.
> I know he is flying now as we look skyward, soaring free and happy!
> And whomever takes over his web-site , know too that you are just as
precious
> to us that Jim is and was to us FalconWatchers .
>
> Kathy K.
> Flwrwm at aol.com
> Edgewood ,Wash.