Sphinx moth

Description:

From Greek aellopos - "storm-footed (swift)" (information from BugGuide)

Habitat:

Garden in a City park

Notes:

I have been after this daytime-flying moth for a couple of weeks now. I first saw it when it was actively raining, so I didn't have my camera out with me. I had described it to a co-worker and he saw it the next week when I had taken a day off. Then I finally caught sight of it today while out shooting skippers and sulphurs at lunch. It buzzed right into my line of sight and I quickly adjusted my camera for the shot. I ended up getting just a single photo and that's what you see here. Hopefully I will get to see it again before the cold weather sends it to its seasonal demise. This marks the first time I've seen this genus in all my years. I hope to see it more often!