Ditto what Ken say about 2012 as the year of the Abbott's Sphinx. Was a new moth for me and I saw three in March. It's hard to come up with an explanation considering all the geography separating the three of us. I've yet to come up with a photo showing the distinctive yellow as well as yours. Nice work!
Marvin Arkansas Ozarks-----Original Message----- From: J. Merrill Lynch
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 6:33 AM To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; tn-moths Subject: [tn-moths] Abbott's Sphinx--new for Watauga Co., NC--5 April 2012 7870 Sphecodina abbottii (Abbott's Sphinx)--my first sphingid of the year and the first ever Abbott's for my farm. What an amazing moth! Came buzzing in to the porch UV light at 6:45 am and at first I thought it was a large beetle. It never settled down but I did manage to get a few shots of it in flight. Stayed for 3 minutes and took off. I had been photographing moths since 4:30 am and it made its brief appearance just as it was starting to get light. Very cool! Merrill Lynch Echo Valley Farm Watauga Co., NC3400 feet elevation
