White-Lined Sphinx Moth

(Hyles lineata)

Description:

White-lined Sphinx moths can be recognized by their large size (for a moth), with large eyes and a furry-brown white-striped thorax, as pictured. The forewings are brown with a center stripe. The hindwing has red markings, as pictured. Their flight patterns and body characteristics can be easily mistaken for hummingbirds…and like hummingbirds, they can hover in place, while sipping on nectar.

Habitat:

Those pictured were working an Arizona Thistle patch at about a 7500 ft altitude in Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains outside Las Vegas. The immediate area is wooded with ponderosa pine. The photos attached were taken in the early morning. References I consulted refer to this creature as more nocturnal.

Notes:

These moths feed on nectar through a long proboscis which extends out as much as the length of the moth itself. When not feeding, the proboscis curls up into the grooved chin area (2nd and 3rd photos). It is well adapted to hovering and feeding, working from flower to flower. Like hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, this moth is a pollinator of plants upon which it feeds.

Species ID Suggestions

24 Comments

Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks, Irina.

IrinaSh 7 years ago

Perfect photos!!

Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks Gilma, Pradeep and Polilla!

Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman 7 years ago

Thank you for sharing this fantastic shots, Jim Nelson.

Pradeep Kumar 7 years ago

Great spotting!

Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks Ashley, and PN Rangers! Your recognition is much appreciated!

LuisStevens 7 years ago

Congrats Jim!

KathleenMcEachern 7 years ago

Congratulations Jim! Lovely spotting!

AshleyT 7 years ago

Congrats Jim, this beautiful moth has been chosen as Spotting of the Week!

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Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks Ashley.

AshleyT 7 years ago

Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!

Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks Graham...this is the 1st time I have seen them in the AM. I am still wrestling with the fact they are classified as a moth...but nothing is uniform in nature!

Jim Nelson 7 years ago

Thanks Diaz Jose Miguel, appreciate the comment.

Graham Monroe 7 years ago

I have also found in my observations that the White-Lined Sphinx is, unlike almost all moths, occasionally active in broad daylight, but it is most common at dusk. I hear that it also flies at dawn, but I have not observed it.