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 169 - 192 of 792 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: dcharris555
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 05, 2019
Submitted by: Kimsicle68
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: NancyT
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: klesc011
Region: Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: agdsquash
Region: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Brandie hadden
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: waveswild
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 19, 2019
Submitted by: JohnRoosenberg
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 24, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: mothid53
Region: Cayuga County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 24, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2019
Observation date: Jun 20, 2019
Submitted by: Mikenlaurie2000
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 21, 2019
Observation date: Jun 17, 2019
Submitted by: Rowen
Region: Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2019
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: woolenegg
Region: Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 17, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: SJAlbaugh75
Region: Knox County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2019
Submitted by: Rob Doerre
Region: Pierce County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 11, 2019
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: Wiwings
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: KingCon
Region: Broome County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 09, 2019
Observation date: May 25, 2019
Submitted by: cmkronick
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 26, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Wheeler
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 13, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2018
Submitted by: Doerfpub
Region: Scott County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Feb 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: arthurgoldsmith
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 05, 2018
Submitted by: gbw
Region: Carlton County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: msieges
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 06, 2018
Observation date: Nov 23, 2018
Submitted by: KatelynRunyan
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 06, 2018
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