Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1117469

Big poplar sphinx
Pachysphinx occidentalis

Observation date: September 03, 2016
Submitted by: LaPolilla
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Found this prepupation caterpillar lumbering across Lark Rd in rural Bonduel, WI, so I grabbed it up. It was a very sunny, warm day, and I was driving on the stretch where farmland is. I brought it home, identified it, provided a place for it to pupate, wintered it in my fridge. I regret not having taken a photo of the caterpillar. I took it out of fridge on 29 April 2017, made a burrow for it in a flower pot, laid paper toweling over it, caged it. Today 24 May 2017, an impressive big poplar sphinx moth turned up inside the cage. I believe it's female.
Status: Resident
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: May 29, 2017
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): Shawano County, United States, Wisconsin