Pacific green sphinx
Proserpinus lucidus Boisduval, 1852
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Body is short and stout. Forewing upperside is green to olive green with pink and brown markings. Hindwing upperside is pale rose pink with a darker submarginal band.
Wing Span: 1 7/8 - 2 3/8 inches (4.8 - 6.1 cm).
Life History: Unlike most members of the genus, adults are nocturnal (per Paul Johnson).
Flight: December to April (per Paul Johnson).
Caterpillar Hosts: Various species of Onagraceae including the following genera: Oenothera, Clarkia, Camissonia.
Adult Food: Adults have reduced mouthparts, so it is unlikely that they feed on nectar or anything else. See Rubinoff in J. Lep. Soc. 55(2) 2001, pp. 78-9.
Habitat: Oak woodlands, and grasslands.
Range: Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California.
Conservation: Not usually required. Development and invasion of habitat by exotic weeds has probably reduced the number of populations.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes: Formerly in the genus Arctonotus. For more information about this species, see Rubinoff, Osborne, and Kawahara in J. Lep. Soc. 63(4) 2009, pp. 233-235..
Alternate Scientific Names:
Arctonotus lucidus
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 89 verified sightings

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Valley County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Umatilla County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grant County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Butte County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 4
- next ›