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 193 - 216 of 792 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 01, 2016
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 30, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2018
Observation date: Aug 04, 2018
Submitted by: birdsfist
Region: Peoria County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: Newtmb
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: Jeep4grl7
Region: Campbell County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2018
Observation date: Jul 17, 2018
Submitted by: kklinesteker
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2018
Submitted by: Mperyer
Region: St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 09, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: LianneNapasney
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: devjohnstone
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Colin Gillette
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: Davin Lake Lodge
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 29, 2018
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: DeniseH
Region: Fremont County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 21, 2018
Submitted by: Hailalla4
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 01, 2015
Submitted by: cdmoore42
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: TS
Region: Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: TS
Region: Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Carmen123
Region: Shawano County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: joaniesb
Region: Sullivan County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 10, 2018
Submitted by: gbw
Region: Carlton County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: AnnW Coyle
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 03, 2018
Observation date: May 26, 2018
Submitted by: Jabu
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2018
Observation date: Mar 20, 2018
Submitted by: whbauer
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 20, 2018
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