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 145 - 168 of 792 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: lw2015
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Ellentomologist
Region: Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: Wsofduluth
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: gbw
Region: Carlton County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2019
Submitted by: shokanso
Region: Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Gori88lla
Region: Hubbard County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: Springles
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: MarkSCitsay
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 14, 2019
Submitted by: cgkhuns
Region: Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2019
Observation date: Aug 07, 2019
Submitted by: L Reid
Region: Garfield County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: pearlxlraep
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Tkegel
Region: Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 02, 2019
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: MissieMay2019
Region: Washakie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 29, 2019
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: Justice.S
Region: Tazewell County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: Heidhorak
Region: Teton County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: Cindy Kindle
Region: Hamilton County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 21, 2019
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2019
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: BruceMissen
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Sabrinaef
Region: Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: djklemen
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
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