Smerinthus cerisyi, the one-eyed sphinx or Cerisyi's sphinx, closely resembles Smerinthus jamaicensis, and in northern regions the two species overlap. Smerinthus cerisyi is found in the southern regions of all Canadian provinces and in northern border states. The one-eyed sphinx is also found along the U.S. west coast, eastward to the Rockies. Little is known about the eclosions of the earth pupators, but many believe pupae wiggle toward the surface just prior to emergence. Reared stock, stored in refrigerator at 48 F from October until May, began eclosing nine days out of storage at 68 F. Moths eclose after dark.
Females extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen to lure in the night flying males.
The male aligns himself at 180 degrees from the female so that their heads are in opposite directions during pairing, which continues until the following evening. Females, with a body girth much greater than that of males, will mate the same night as they have eclosed. Resting males arch the lower third of their abdomens upwards towards the thorax while females rest with the abdomen uncurled. Both sexes rest with wings parallel to the resting surface. Spherical, pale green ova are difficult to distinguish from other Sphingidae ova.