Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands
Smerinthus cerisyi [Sphingidae]
Wingspan 7.8 cm. Forewing is falcate, pale gray with darker red or black-brown lines and bands, the outer margin not scalloped; hindwing is rose-red with a blue ring on a round black anal spot. This sphingid is abundant in wet forests in western North America, particularly in coastal forests, riparian forests east of the Cascade Mountains, and quaking aspen forests of the Rocky Mountains. Moths fly in spring and early summer. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus).
Similar species: species of Paonias hindwing with a solid blue pupil on the black anal spot; species of Pachysphinx hindwing with a black anal bar.
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