Created as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, July 20, 2017
Updated as per BAMONA, July 20, 2017

Del Norte County, California
Sphingidae

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.
Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.
I have no confirmed reports of these moths in Del Norte County, except for the ones specifically referenced to BAMONA or to a specific individual, but based on James A. Tuttle's book and sightings in nearby counties, I think all the species on this page are likely present. There is a good chance, however, that Smerinthus cerisyi is replaced in northern and central California by Smerinthus ophthalmica.
You can visit Sphingidae checklists for all US states, all Canadian provinces and all countries in Central and South America and in the Carribean via the links at Sphingidae Checklists.
Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth
This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.

Manduca sexta, the Carolina Sphinx
If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is soft dark-gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one reaching the wing tip. Note grey thorax with narrow black lines.

Sphinx drupiferarum, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest.I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx perelegans, Elegant Sphinx (BAMONA). Sphinx perelegans adults fly in montane woodlands and mixed chaparral-type vegetation as a single brood in the north, with adults mainly on the wing in June and July. It flies from dusk until after midnight. Note dark thorax.

Sphinx sequoiae, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis , the Big Poplar Sphinx
This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker.
Moths should be on the wing from June-August.

Paonias excaecata, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks.
The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Smerinthus cerisyi, Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx. (BAMONA) Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Probably this species is replaced by Ophthalmica in northern and central CA.

Smerinthus opthalmica. Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

Hemaris thetis, the Thetis Clearwing or Bee Hawk Moth,
The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon, the Achemon Sphinx
It should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is confirmed in Tehama County by Rodger Harris, January 9, 2007.
It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata, the White-lined Sphinx
Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at salvia and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and Hooker's Evening Primrose.

Proserpinus clarkiae, Clark's Sphinx. Adults fly in the afternoon from April-June in oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills, nectaring from chia, heartleaf milkweed, golden currant, bluedicks, fairyfans, vetches, thistles, hedgenettles, etc.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.
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Del Norte County, California Sphingidae

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.

Manduca sexta, the Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx chersis, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is soft dark-gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one reaching the wing tip. Note grey thorax with narrow black lines.

Sphinx drupiferarum, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest.I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx perelegans, Elegant Sphinx (BAMONA). Sphinx perelegans adults fly in montane woodlands and mixed chaparral-type vegetation as a single brood in the north, with adults mainly on the wing in June and July. It flies from dusk until after midnight. Note dark thorax.

Sphinx sequoiae, the Sequoiae Sphinx Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis , the Big Poplar Sphinx This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. Moths should be on the wing from June-August.

Paonias excaecata, the Blinded Sphinx The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks. The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Smerinthus cerisyi, Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx. (BAMONA) Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Probably this species is replaced by Ophthalmica in northern and central CA.

Smerinthus opthalmica. Larvae feed on poplars, aspen and willows. Note different shape of double arced forewing pm line compared to the straighter pm line of cerisyi, directly above. S. ophthalmica has smoother scalloping of the fw outer margin.

Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini Tribe:

Hemaris thetis, the Thetis Clearwing or Bee Hawk Moth, The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon, the Achemon Sphinx It should be present wherever grapes are found. Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear SphinxThis species is confirmed in Tehama County by Rodger Harris, January 9, 2007. It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at salvia and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and Hooker's Evening Primrose.

Proserpinus clarkiae, Clark's Sphinx. Adults fly in the afternoon from April-June in oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills, nectaring from chia, heartleaf milkweed, golden currant, bluedicks, fairyfans, vetches, thistles, hedgenettles, etc.

Del Norte County, California
Sphingidae

Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth
This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.

Manduca sexta, the Carolina Sphinx
If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Sphinx drupiferarum, the Wild Cherry Sphinx
Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest.I only see them occasionally on P.E.I. despite visiting lights frequently.

Sphinx sequoiae, the Sequoiae Sphinx
Adults fly as a single brood in the desert and in pinyon-juniper woodland from May to August.

Pachysphinx occidentalis , the Big Poplar Sphinx
This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker.
Moths should be on the wing from June-August.

Paonias excaecata, the Blinded Sphinx
The grey-blue eyespot (without a black center pupil) of the hindwing gives this species its name. Larvae feed on birches, willows, cherries and oaks.
The outer edge of the forewings is quite scalloped.

Hemaris thetis, the Thetis Clearwing or Bee Hawk Moth,
The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc.

Eumorpha achemon, the Achemon Sphinx
It should be present wherever grapes are found.
Fight would be from June to August. Larvae feed on grape foliage.

Arctonotus lucidus, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx
This species is confirmed in Tehama County by Rodger Harris, January 9, 2007.
It tends to be an early winter-early spring flier, on the wing in the early evening. It comes to lights at night.

Hyles lineata, the White-lined Sphinx
Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, at dawn, and during the day. Moths nectar at salvia and oviposit on Epilobium cana (California fuchsia) and Hooker's Evening Primrose.