Big poplar sphinx
Pachysphinx occidentalis (Hy. Edwards, 1875)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Two color forms exist. Upperside of wings is yellow brown in the pale form, dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined. Hindwing has a crimson patch covering varying amounts of the wing, and 2 dark lines which do not form a distinct triangle.
Wing Span: 5 1/8 - 5 7/8 inches (13 - 15 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs on leaves of the hosts. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow burrows in the ground.
Flight: . Two broods in southern Arizona from May-September, one brood northward from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cottonwood and poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Riparian areas and suburbs.
Range: North Dakota west to eastern Washington; south to Texas, southern California, and 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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 266 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: Djhaenel
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Laylurss
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Moffat County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: Slmantovani85
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: RadRae
Region: Oscoda County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Nov 01, 2018
Submitted by: DanaDilbert
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2015
Submitted by: tynkerfly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: Kdnelson13
Region: Morgan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2012
Submitted by: jmaxxwell
Region: Gem County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: Boringmat
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: Jwolfe
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: Nengaku
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2015
Submitted by: Lovingmothsnbut...
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2016
Submitted by: kcmatt
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 06, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2017
Submitted by: kcmatt
Region: Sanpete County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2017
Submitted by: Eric Olson
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2017
Submitted by: Eric Olson
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: dagnabber
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Tessabrown1122
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: JSamuelson
Region: Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
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