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 97 - 120 of 788 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 19, 2019
Submitted by: aqk
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2016
Submitted by: duebici
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2016
Submitted by: LunaMary
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2016
Submitted by: Seanmdaigle1
Region: Aroostook County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2018
Submitted by: actarheel
Region: Aroostook County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: daniellevoight
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: marysward
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: Andrew.the.Innkeeper
Region: Piscataquis County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2018
Submitted by: Levinef
Region: Emmet County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2019
Submitted by: Fg2003
Region: Calhoun County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2015
Submitted by: solson
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: jeffery47
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: jebAdiah
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: Haasome611
Region: Alcona County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: Woodsfarer
Region: Midland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: gbodker
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: Brianmalloy25
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
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