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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 709 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 12, 2012
Submitted by: usbl789
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2017
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2013
Submitted by: Ideaphore
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: crjenkins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: CKopka
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Sass Bergen
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: dakonz
Region: Wadena County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: momtodem
Region: Leelanau County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jul 12, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: Karlyn malcolm
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: VUELC Strathclair
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: chr1stymae
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: crjenkins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: zeeripz
Region: Franklin County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: Karna1962
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Ashland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jun 13, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Lppaille
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 28, 2021
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: Jezzproctor
Region: Androscoggin County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: SJCraig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: Bea Kohlhaas
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 20, 2021
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