Comments for
3-4 inch black and white flying insect (Sphinx moth)

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Elegant Sphinx moth
by: Moni

Keith
If that is what you think it is then that is the name we will put on it. Elegant Sphinx is the common name for that species. Since you live in Oregon it is very possible.
Thanks for your verification!!

Species of moth
by: Keith

It looks the most like: Sphinx perelegans

Thank you!
by: Keith

WOW, fabulous! I went and looked at the images. Thank you so much for identifying this behemoth of a moth!

Sphinx moth
by: Moni

Keith
This is one of the sphinx moths, family Sphingidae.
Without seeing the wing patterns it would be difficult to know which one.
Here are several pages of photos of the genus Sphinx which it probably is - http://bugguide.net/node/view/3732/bgimage

This genus of moths fly at dusk or dawn and do look kind of like hummingbirds. They have a long proboscis mouth for sipping nectar from flowers.

Caterpillars of this family are called horntails as they have a tail on the rear end...some species loose this tail during the last stage before turning into a pupa. The caterpillars feed on various plants depending what species it is.

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