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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 289 - 312 of 795 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 08, 2015
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 13, 2015
Observation date: Jul 01, 2015
Submitted by: ChkDigit
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 06, 2015
Observation date: Jun 16, 2015
Submitted by: Latenight
Region: Cameron County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2015
Observation date: Jun 08, 2015
Submitted by: James Barron
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jun 12, 2015
Observation date: May 21, 2015
Submitted by: Smilodon77
Region: La Plata County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: LinCepek
Region: Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2015
Observation date: Jun 04, 2014
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Oswego County, New York, United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Feb 02, 2015
Observation date: Jun 14, 1990
Submitted by: Eric Olson
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 04, 2015
Observation date: Jun 06, 2014
Submitted by: CathK
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Dec 10, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Gregoire
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Dec 09, 2014
Observation date: Aug 02, 2014
Submitted by: michaeloberg
Region: Benton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Aug 24, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: davidwright (Link Davis)
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 13, 2014
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: nedeweese
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 05, 2014
Observation date: Jul 17, 2014
Submitted by: 1mmm76
Region: Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Jul 31, 2014
Observation date: Jul 24, 2014
Submitted by: WldWi11y
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 29, 2014
Observation date: Jul 22, 2014
Submitted by: joeverica
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2014
Observation date: Jul 11, 2014
Submitted by: cfosp1
Region: Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: ShawnLane
Region: Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2014
Observation date: Jul 13, 2014
Submitted by: SarahHong
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 15, 2014
Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: cynthia bourg
Region: Cloud County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 14, 2014
Observation date: Jul 08, 2014
Submitted by: Fullpawtential
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 10, 2014
Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: blubungalo
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 09, 2014
Observation date: Jul 07, 2014
Submitted by: Jerri Lee Foster
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 08, 2014
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: ivyclinger
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
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