Photo: Shawnda Thomas Faveau, February 5, 2009. White-Lined Sphinx Moth.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
Shawnda caught some terrific photos of a moth with a substantial and furry body, with a 3" wingspan that landed on her doorstep last night. It was still around this morning. After posing for a few more photos, it flapped its wings rapidly and flew away like a hummingbird.
It was not quite as a large as the MOTHRA! reported last month. Although, Shawnda gets Black Witch Moths on her doorstep too. Since painting her house silver, she's noticed an increasing number of different species of moths.
Photo: Shawnda Thomas Faveau, February 5, 2009. White-Lined Sphinx Moth.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
Shawnda used Bug Guide and searched by bug shape. She discovered it was a White-Lined Sphinx Moth, also called Striped Morning Sphinx, (Hyles lineata). According to LA County Natural History Museum Dept. of Entomology's "Common Insects of the LA Basin" webpage, the White-Lined Sphinx Moth is one of the most common in Los Angeles.
