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Clark's sphinx
Proserpinus clarkiae (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is greenish gray; median area may be dark or pale. Hindwing upperside is bright orangish yellow with black borders.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Eggs hatch about 10 days after the female deposits them on the host plant, and the newly-hatched caterpillars eat their eggshells. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in burrows dug under stones and other solid objects. Adults fly during the day, especially in the afternoon.
Flight: . One brood from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Elegant fairyfan (Clarkia unguiculata) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including chia (Salvia columbariae), heartleaf milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia), golden currant (Ribes aureum), bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), fairyfans (Clarkia), vetches (Vicia), thistles (Cirsium), and hedgenettles (Stachys).
Habitat: Oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills.
Range: British Columbia and Washington south through California to Baja California Norte, east to Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 102 verified sightings

Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: wildebynature
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022

Observation date: Jun 02, 2021
Submitted by: wildebynature
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022

Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: Jehlers86
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022

Observation date: Mar 20, 2022
Submitted by: EdVermeulen
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: May 30, 2022

Observation date: May 03, 2018
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Dec 06, 2021

Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: GaryMerrill
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021

Observation date: Jun 29, 2018
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021

Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Natural DeBee
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021

Observation date: May 21, 2020
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 23, 2020

Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 20, 2020

Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2018

Observation date: Jun 05, 2016
Submitted by: shastamax
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017

Observation date: Jun 02, 2017
Submitted by: shastamax
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jun 06, 2017

Observation date: May 13, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: May 25, 2015

Observation date: May 13, 2013
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 20, 2015

Observation date: Mar 25, 2015
Submitted by: melina staal
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Mar 26, 2015

Observation date: May 15, 2014
Submitted by: Mark W. Stockslager
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: May 26, 2014

Observation date: Jun 08, 2013
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2013

Observation date: Jun 16, 2013
Submitted by: gilde
Region: Union County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2013

Observation date: Jun 08, 2008
Submitted by: plex1ppus (plex1ppus)
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 13, 2011

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010

Observation date: Mar 14, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Johnson)
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Mar 21, 2007

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: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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