7802 -- Great Ash Sphinx Moth -- Sphinx chersis
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Found across Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and in most of the United States, but rare in the Gulf States.
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Seasonality and Size:
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One generation in the north, two or more in the south. Wingspan 9-13 cm.
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Larva and Host Plants:
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Larva feed on ash, lilac, privet and other plants in the olive family. The large (to 10 cm) greenish or pinkish larva has seven pairs of oblique lines on sides, each line continuing to preceding and following segments. Vertically elongate spiracles are black, bordered by white. An anal plate is flattened and edged with yellow.
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Field Marks:
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forewing gray with a series of 4 black dashes. The outermost dash reaches the tip of the wing
hindwing black with 2 blurred pale grey bands
Central part of head and thorax gray
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Similar Species:
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In various parts of the west confusion might arise between this species and S. vashti, S. chersis and S. asella.
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References
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USA Distribution Map at BMNA
Covell Field Guide p.34; Pl. 4(7, male)
MONA Fascicle 21, p.58; Pl. 3(9-10), 4(2)
Handfield's Papillons du Québec p.269; Pl. 51(7802, male)
Wagner's Caterpillars of Eastern North America p.256
Bill Oehlke's Species Page
Data compiled by Nolie Schneider from references noted. See the Books Page for bibliographic and ordering information.
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