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Big poplar sphinx
Pachysphinx occidentalis (Hy. Edwards, 1875)
Attributes of Pachysphinx occidentalisFamily: Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) Subfamily: Sphinginae (Sphinginae) Identification: Two color forms exist. Upperside of wings is yellow brown in the pale form, dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined. Hindwing has a crimson patch covering varying amounts of the wing, and 2 dark lines which do not form a distinct triangle. Life history: Females lay eggs on leaves of the hosts. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow burrows in the ground. Flight: . Two broods in southern Arizona from May-September, one brood northward from June-August. Wing span: 5 1/8 - 5 7/8 inches (13 - 15 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Cottonwood and poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix). Adult food: Adults do not feed. Habitat: Riparian areas and suburbs. Range: North Dakota west to eastern Washington; south to Texas, southern California, and Baja California Norte. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Pachysphinx occidentalis
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