Sphinx vashti (Taxonomy)
Treated by Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, Novit. zool.9 (suppl.): 130, as a junior synonym of Sphinx vancouverensis. However, this latter taxon was shown to be a junior synonym of Sphinx perelegans by Hodges, 1971, in Dominick et al. Moths Am. N. of Mexico21: 60. Vashti also applies to the form with the grey thorax, which Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, Novit. zool.9 (suppl.): 131, suggested might be the spring form.
Variable in pattern and wing length (30-41 mm.). Mesothorax upperside either grey or black.Mesothoracic tegula with a heavy black edge, but no mesial line. Foretibia and foretarsus with some spines elongate.Midtarsus 1st segment with comb, but only the most proximal bristles long.Hindtibia with long apical spur half the length of 1st hindtarsal segment; hindtarsus 1st segment only as long as segments 2-5 together.Paronychium small, with a short lobe. Forewing upperside pale grey to very dark grey, with a pale grey to almost white area extending along the costal margin from the base; a prominent apical line; intervenosal dashes between veins M1 & M2, M3 & CuA1, and CuA1 & CuA2; many of the veins also narrowly black; prominent black submarginal line, bordered distally by a pale area that tapers apicad. Hindwing underside with white discal band well marked, the black discal band not obviously dentate. Uncus elongate, sharply pointed, convex dorsally, abruptly downcurved, forming a long hook.Gnathos with a very broad lobe that is very weakly sinuate.Valve comparatively shorter and more rounded, especially dorsally, than in Sphinx chersis.Harpe similar to that of Sphinx chersis, but the ventral lobe very short, and the long process more oblique and somewhat undulate.Aedeagus with a rather short, blunt process that is concave on the inner side. Ostial plate with a large subapical cavity in which is the ostium, partly covered anteriorly by a convex lobe.