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 121 - 144 of 282 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 17, 2003
Submitted by: kangaroo1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2012
Observation date: Jun 23, 2012
Submitted by: justcookiecr
Region: Becker County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 26, 2012
Observation date: Jun 16, 2012
Submitted by: drosbeck
Region: Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: Jun 13, 2012
Submitted by: rjtesarek
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 16, 2012
Submitted by: rawenn
Region: Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: Goochamaroo
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 2011
Submitted by: ladymagpie
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 08, 2012
Submitted by: Esjay
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 04, 2012
Submitted by: Nick Valeri
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jun 05, 2012
Observation date: Jul 15, 2011
Submitted by: sharrow
Region: Utah, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: Aug 24, 2010
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: May 08, 2012
Observation date: Sep 04, 2010
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: May 08, 2012
Observation date: Aug 09, 2011
Submitted by: Socpxd
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 12, 2011
Observation date: Aug 12, 2011
Submitted by: whiteb
Region: Umatilla County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 09, 2011
Observation date: Sep 03, 2011
Submitted by: nadiadeleon23
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 09, 2011
Observation date: Jul 18, 2011
Submitted by: rhacodactylus
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 09, 2011
Observation date: Aug 20, 2011
Submitted by: sharonlombardi
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2011
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: Fleedar
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 30, 2011
Observation date: Jul 22, 2011
Submitted by: mturn2
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 17, 2011
Observation date: Jun 25, 2011
Submitted by: erovegno
Region: Pueblo County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jun 10, 2011
Submitted by: shadypinestables
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 10, 2011
Observation date: Sep 04, 2010
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: May 04, 2011
Observation date: Jul 11, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Essenmacher, Monica)
Region: Huron County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 16, 2011
Submitted by: KKB530
Region: Ector County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 26, 2011
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