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 25 - 48 of 238 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2015
Submitted by: Iceclimb
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jun 19, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: annieo@eclectech.net
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: May 27, 2015
Observation date: Mar 20, 2015
Submitted by: azacres
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2013
Submitted by: graceella@hotma...
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jan 30, 2015
Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: Jlopez
Region: Bannock County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jan 28, 2015
Observation date: Jul 31, 2014
Submitted by: jim.odonater
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 05, 2014
Observation date: Jul 26, 2014
Submitted by: Mariposa14
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 28, 2014
Observation date: Aug 03, 2014
Submitted by: finatic
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 14, 2014
Observation date: Jul 31, 2014
Submitted by: Janis Clark
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 03, 2014
Observation date: Jul 28, 2014
Submitted by: JessLanka
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 28, 2014
Observation date: Jul 24, 2014
Submitted by: Revjim72
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
Observation date: Jul 15, 2014
Submitted by: Jreilly
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 23, 2014
Observation date: Jul 10, 2014
Submitted by: clayandraku@gma...
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 16, 2014
Observation date: Jul 15, 2014
Submitted by: Laura Richardson
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2014
Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: tjheindel
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jul 13, 2014
Observation date: Jul 06, 2014
Submitted by: oilyduke
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 08, 2014
Observation date: Jun 24, 2014
Submitted by: ThomasDunford
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: Rabid_Cat_Bug_Hunter
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 23, 2014
Submitted by: dwaynegreen7
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jun 23, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: Kerley4me
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jun 19, 2014
Observation date: May 14, 2014
Submitted by: pacicclass
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: May 23, 2014
Observation date: May 19, 2014
Submitted by: corock
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: May 23, 2014
Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: willysjeepers
Region: Emery County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Feb 20, 2014
Observation date: Aug 23, 2013
Submitted by: Molly Taylor
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Feb 20, 2014
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 10
- next ›