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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 282 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 27, 2013
Submitted by: Vebshtar
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 24, 2013
Observation date: Aug 17, 2013
Submitted by: aenglish
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 22, 2013
Observation date: Jun 13, 2013
Submitted by: matthewjcampbell
Region: Umatilla County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 18, 2013
Observation date: Jul 22, 2013
Submitted by: Kyle Clark
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2013
Observation date: Jul 18, 2012
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 09, 2013
Observation date: Jul 11, 2010
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Nov 09, 2012
Observation date: Sep 04, 2010
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 30, 2012
Observation date: Jul 12, 2012
Submitted by: Seacrowe
Region: Denver County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 07, 2012
Submitted by: Gdasch
Region: Weld County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 07, 2012
Observation date: Apr 25, 2012
Submitted by: marijka
Region: Fremont County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 07, 2012
Observation date: Jul 22, 2012
Submitted by: colawman888
Region: Fremont County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 07, 2012
Observation date: Aug 05, 2012
Submitted by: BOGwalker
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 14, 2012
Observation date: Aug 08, 2012
Submitted by: Clarkelakecamper
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 14, 2012
Observation date: Aug 06, 2012
Submitted by: hulfordl
Region: Churchill County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 06, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 2012
Submitted by: jaimerenee
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Aug 03, 2012
Observation date: Aug 31, 2011
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2012
Observation date: Aug 31, 2011
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2012
Observation date: Jul 13, 2004
Submitted by: cheins
Region: Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 28, 2012
Observation date: Mar 17, 2003
Submitted by: kangaroo1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Mar 17, 2003
Submitted by: kangaroo1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 08, 2003
Submitted by: kangaroo1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 30, 2012
Submitted by: treesnakes
Region: Aitkin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 2012
Submitted by: mkwagener
Region: Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: Mar 17, 2003
Submitted by: kangaroo1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2012
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