Liang
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by Liang on Aug 31, 2016 15:00:53 GMT -8
I have a male sphinx of the Smerinthus genus but I can't tell if it is S. ophthalmica or cerisyi. Opthalmica was synonymous with cerisyi until recently and apparently only the males can be reliably differentiated; females require inspection of DNA. According to one source "males of S. ophthalmica have narrower antennal pectinations, smoother forewing outer margin, more sharply angled antemedial line, smoother postmedial line, less contrasting paler veins, and a less conspicuous subterminal line". Location wise, ophthalmica occurs in the Pacific NorthWest while cerisyi has a more eastern range, but I am in the Bay Area of Northern California which seem to be around the boarder between the ranges of the two species. My guess so far is that it is opthalmica, but if anyone can positively identify which Smerinthus this is, it would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by oehlkew on Aug 31, 2016 15:55:59 GMT -8
The one you have depicted above is ophthalmica. Bill Oehlke
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Liang
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by Liang on Aug 31, 2016 19:15:51 GMT -8
Thanks for the identification, Bill! I have been wondering a while now whether the moths flying around here were opthalmica or cerisyi. Also, I have reared these before and they do not go into diapause which means the ophthalmica population in my region are not univoltine. All the sources that I have seen claim that cerisyi is single brooded, so I wonder if multivoltinisn in ophthalmica is another difference from cerisyi?
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