Modest sphinx
Pachysphinx modesta (Harris, 1839)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is gray with the basal third lighter; sometimes the outer third also is light, leaving just the median band dark. Upperside of hindwing is gray with a crimson patch and an inward-pointing blue-black triangle near the outer margin.
Wing Span: 3 - 4 11/16 inches (7.6 - 12 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs on leaves of the hosts, and the eggs hatch in about 9 days. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow burrows in the ground.
Flight: . One brood in the north from June-July, two broods in the south from May-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Poplar, aspen, and cottonwood (Populus) and willow (Salix).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Riparian areas and moist mountainsides.
Range: Maine south to north Florida; west to Washington, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Also Baja California Norte.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 778 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: SBJ
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: Maya W.
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Duck1crazy
Region: Wasatch County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Melanie Guitard
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2025
Submitted by: nattyfait
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 08, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Froglips
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: cashewmommi
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: BlueRaven888
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2024
Submitted by: Betsy Higgins
Region: Coos County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: Miksoko
Region: Mackinac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: Loopbum
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: della
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 23, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: rkelso82
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 07, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2024
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