Sphinx asellus (Taxonomy)
General description:
Treated (as ÔÇíacellus) as a subspecies of Sphinx perelegans by Kernbach, 1969, Dt. ent. Z. (N.F.) 16: 101. Raised (as ÔÇíasella) to species status by Hodges, 1971, in Dominick et al.Moths Amer. N. of Mexico21: 62.
Morphology:
Similar to Sphinx perelegans, but: occiput and mesonotum grey, not dark brown; unlike Sphinx chersis there are 2, not one, dark lines on the tegula; paronychium reduced, without lobe; forewing upperside almost uniformly grey, rather than brown, with broad white submarginal band, the intervenosal stripes prominent against the background; fringe with distinct white spots; apical line interrupted, not continuous as it is in Sphinx libocedrus. Hindwing underside without apical line, unlike Sphinx libocedrus.