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 121 - 144 of 789 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: Brianmalloy25
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Amy.Ong19
Region: Alger County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: Jackson County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Valley County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: dobbz
Region: Itasca County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: HHipvine
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Dec 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: aaronmn
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Dec 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2016
Submitted by: MAsselin
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 13, 2020
Submitted by: Ilona L.
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Nov 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: Wade Wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: Will Anderson
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: HerrickVT
Region: Lamoille County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2019
Submitted by: ildikoVT
Region: Addison County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2017
Submitted by: ildikoVT
Region: Addison County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: Sherry Steeves
Region: Bennington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: Duane A. Tipper
Region: Franklin County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: andreah
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: Mickykvm
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: Youngfox
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: Seashell71
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: martinkokj
Region: Iron County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Enid wray
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Hyperfig
Region: Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
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