A mysterious egg we found has hatched into what clearly appears to be a sphinx moth larvae. Could it be the One-eyed Sphinx (Smerinthus cerisyi)? Yesterday we found a very large egg on Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) at the Eastside Permaculture Garden near Memorial Park in Albany. It was a mottled brown color when we found it and pretty oval and flat, with a thick shell similar to, say, the eggs of the Giant Silkmoths we have reared. However, there are no established Giant Silkmoth populations in Albany and it clearly wasn't a Polyphemus (Antheraea polyphemus) or Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus) egg anyway, especially because it wasn't laid in a cluster. So even though the egg did seem characteristic of a Saturniid, we thought that it was most likely some sort of sphinx moth. As the egg reached the end of its development, it became a pearly white color because the shell became clear and the pale (whitish) caterpillar underneath was beginning to become exposed. When it finally hatched sometime this morning, we suppose that we had guessed correctly that it would be some kind of Sphingadae since it has the distinguishing horn on its last segment (think hornworms). The overall shape of the body was a pretty big giveaway too -- long and slender with no hair or tubercles. However, actually identifying the exact species can be difficult and our best guess is that we now possess a larvae of the One-eyed Sphinx (Smerinthus cerisyi), a fairly common sphinx moth who's range should extend to our region. Though daisies are not at all related to any of the host plants listed for S. cerisyi, the daisy that it was laid on was growing directly underneath a willow (Salix), so perhaps the moth intended to lay it on that instead which would make much more sense since it and a number of other species eat willow. We shall see for sure once our little guy grows a little bigger, but for now the descriptions and identification pictures of the first instar caterpillar sure do match what we have. But until then. . . UPDATE: The caterpillars has accepted the willow leaf we put in its petri dish. - Brian
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Timeline 2012–2017
Albany, California This timeline is a series of daily posts recording our observations on and experiences with various insects in Albany California and surrounding areas, from 2012-2017. Since we did not publish this site until 2016, posts before that were constructed retroactively. Starting in August 2017, we moved to Ithaca, New York; posts from there on can be viewed at Timeline 2017-present: Ithaca, New York. Archives (1,011)
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![]() ![]() Full Species List (Alphabetical by scientific name) Note: - Not every species we encounter is necessarily presented on this site, rather a selection of those that were of particular interest to us and that we felt were worth documenting. - We can't guarantee that all species have been identified accurately, particularly taxa we are not as familiar with. Lepidoptera Actias luna Adelpha californica Agraulis vanillae Allancastria cerisyi Antheraea mylitta Antheraea polyphemus Anthocharis sara Argema mimosae Attacus atlas Battus philenor hirsuta Bombyx mori Caligo atreus Callosamia promethea Coenonympha tullia california Citheronia regalis Cricula trifenestrata Danaus plexippus Eacles imperialis Erynnis tristis Estigmene acrea Eumorpha achemon Eupackardia calleta Furcula cinereoides Heliconius erato Heliconius hecale Heliconius sapho Heliconius sara Hyalophora cecropia Hyalophora columbia Hyalophora euryalus Hylephila phyleus Hyles lineata Junonia coenia Langia zenzeroides formosana Lophocampa maculata Manduca sexta Morpho peleides Nymphalis antiopa Orgyia vetusta Orthosia hibisci quenquefasciata Pachysphinx modesta Papilio cresphontes Papilio eurymedon Papilio glaucus Papilio machaon oregonius Papilio multicaudata Papilio polyxenes asterius Papilio rumiko Papilio rutulus Papilio zelicaon Phyciodes mylitta Phyciodes pulchella Pieris rapae Plejebus acmon Poanes melane Polites sabuleti Polygonia satyrus Pyrgus communis Rothschildia jacobaeae Samia cynthia advena Samia ricini Smerinthus cerisyi Smerinthus ophthalmica Strymon melinus Trichoplusia ni Uresephita reversalis Vanessa annabella Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Unidentified Lepidoptera Hybrids Papilio glaucus × Papilio rutulus Papilio polyxenes asterius × Papilio zelicaon Orthoptera Melanoplus devastator Phaneroptera nana Pristoceuthophilus pacificus Scudderia mexicana Trimerotropis pallidipennis Phasmatodea Carausius morosus Phyllium giganteum Mantodea Mantis religiosa Phyllocrania paradoxa Hymenoptera Apis mellifera Bombus vosnesenskii Brachymeria ovata Linepithema humile Pediobius sp. Polistes dominula Xylocopa varipuncta Unidentified Diptera Lucilia sericata Unidentified Hemiptera Brochymena sp. Leptoglossus sp. Nezara viridula Odonata Argia vivida Libellula croceipennis Coleoptera Coccinella septempunctata Cycloneda polita Diabrotica undecimpunctata Hippodamia convergens Araneae (Class: Arachnida) Araneus diadematus Phidippus johnsoni |