Genus Pachysphinx Rank Species | ||
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Similar Pachysphinx modesta, Smerinthus cerisyi, Eumorpha achemon, Hemaris thetis, Sphinx vashti |
Big poplar sphinx moth pachysphinx occidentalis
Pachysphinx occidentalis (big poplar sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It lives throughout Canada and the United States. The habitat consists of riparian areas and suburbs.
Contents

The wingspan is 130–150 mm. There are two color forms, a pale form with yellow brown forewings, which are dark gray in the dark form. The lines and bands are well-defined. The upperside of the hindwing has a crimson patch covering varying amounts of the wing, and two dark lines which do not form a distinct triangle.

There are two generations per year in southern Arizona with adults on wing from May to September. Farther north, there is one generation per year with adults on wing from June to August.

The larvae feed on cottonwood Populus and Salix species.
Subspecies

References
Pachysphinx occidentalis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA