Because of the wide white band on this Sphinx Moth & a Google search I think I've found this one but would like a second or third opinion on the id please.
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/txcentralsph.htm - abouth halfway down the page there are three
moths of the genus Aellopos. I'm thinking this one looks most like Aellopos clavipes.
Thanks for looking... again :-)
Seen in my yard (Sierra County, New Mexico) this evening.
That may be the most likely i.d.; the very similar appearing Aellopos tantalus (see http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3433) appears to occur only in Florida. Other species of Aellopus that could occur in your region look quite different - see http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Aellopos_fadus_sjh.JPG
Thank you suunto. I think I am going to submit this to bug guide and see if Eric Eaton will confirm. I'm not finding any Aellopos listed for New Mexico in any of the usual resources. Perhaps this is a stray.
