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 217 - 240 of 794 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 12, 2013
Submitted by: Slugbait
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Aug 13, 2010
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jan 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 13, 2017
Submitted by: lauralou
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 29, 2017
Observation date: Jul 01, 2017
Submitted by: Danaoz
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2017
Submitted by: grjmn
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: rrosene
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 03, 2017
Submitted by: Eric Olson
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Oct 14, 2017
Observation date: Aug 30, 2017
Submitted by: williameullsciences
Region: Wright County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 18, 2017
Observation date: Aug 21, 2017
Submitted by: msweier
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: Aug 15, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Aug 10, 2017
Submitted by: KenObi406
Region: Silver Bow County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 14, 2017
Observation date: Jul 25, 2017
Submitted by: maryk1949
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jun 29, 2017
Submitted by: devjohnstone
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 19, 2013
Submitted by: mizsnowday
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: reutere
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: devjohnstone
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 27, 2017
Submitted by: devjohnstone
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 02, 2017
Observation date: Jul 29, 2017
Submitted by: Lilaceous
Region: Coos County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: sucada
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 20, 2017
Observation date: Jul 18, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: Nicholas4343
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2017
Observation date: Jul 13, 2017
Submitted by: kaos77
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2017
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