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 241 - 264 of 794 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: kristjan Backman
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 11, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2017
Submitted by: Ben Lincoln
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2017
Submitted by: Sam10908
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 19, 2017
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: Winter
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 01, 2017
Submitted by: bumbles
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 01, 2017
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: E Smith
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 18, 2017
Observation date: Jun 16, 2017
Submitted by: Tamilyn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 12, 2017
Submitted by: Anne Peck
Region: Herkimer County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 13, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: Tone_hound
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 09, 2017
Observation date: Jun 08, 2017
Submitted by: Deadpool98
Region: Schenectady County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 09, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 09, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2017
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: rrosene
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 02, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2008
Submitted by: alleerose
Region: Clare County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Apr 20, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2016
Submitted by: Greg Dean
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 15, 2017
Observation date: Aug 08, 2016
Submitted by: lindathestoryteller
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 02, 2017
Observation date: Jun 25, 2016
Submitted by: SarahNS
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Sep 07, 2016
Observation date: Jul 29, 2016
Submitted by: QuirkyTowers
Region: Lewis County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 29, 2016
Observation date: Jul 21, 2016
Submitted by: iangardner
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2016
Observation date: Jul 22, 2016
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2016
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: uwtriguy
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 13, 2016
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: Paul F. J. Eagles
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2016
Observation date: Jun 22, 2016
Submitted by: hdad58
Region: Coos County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2016
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