Conservation Status
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A common, widespread moth. No concerns.
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Cyclicity
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Adults are on the wing from mid May through mid July.
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Distribution
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Throughout much of North America, from the Gulf States north into the Boreal forest region across Canada. In Alberta, it occurs in cottonwood stands along the rivers of the plains (occidentalis ?) north into the boreal forest at least to Ft. McMurray, and west into the mountains at low elevations.
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General Description
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A very large moth (10.0-12.0 cm. wingspan) with long, narrow forewings banded with light and dark grey-brown and a maroon hindwing with a blue-black blotch in the anal angle. Nearly impossible to mistake for any other Alberta moth. Very pale specimens from southern Alberta have been called Pachysphinx occidentalis. P. occidentalis is a much lighter tan moth with more extensive maroon shading on the hindwing. However, Alberta specimens appear to grade from pale to dark forms, and all Alberta Pachysphinx are treated here as modesta, pending further study.
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Habitat
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Open mature poplar forest or mixedwood forest with poplar.
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Life Cycle
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Adult Big Poplar sphinx are nocturnal, and come readily to light. The large green larvae are reputed to be the largest insect in Alberta, based on weight. The larval stage extends from mid-July to September, and they overwinter in the ground as pupae.
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Trophic Strategy
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No Alberta data. Elsewhere poplars, and in particular aspen poplar. There are also single reports from willow and birch, but these should be confirmed.
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Pachysphinx modesta
provided by wikipedia EN
Pachysphinx modesta, the modest sphinx or poplar sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839.
Gallery
Distribution
It ranges from the southern United States up and throughout Canada.[2]
Biology
Adults are on wing from mid-June to mid-July in Canada. In the northern part of the range, there is one generation with adults on wing from may to July. Farther south, there might be two generations per year.
The larvae feed on poplar, willow and cottonwood species.
References
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Pachysphinx modesta: Brief Summary
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Pachysphinx modesta, the modest sphinx or poplar sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839.
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