DISTRIBUTION: Pachysphinx modesta, the Poplar Sphinx or Modest Sphinx ranges through southern portions of all Canadian provinces and is found in the eastern half of the U.S. from Maine to northern Florida. FLIGHT TIMES: Male and female Pachysphinx modesta moths come readily to lights from mid June to mid July in Canada.

This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Tim Dyson recorded the moth depicted above on June 8-9 in Peterborough, Ontario.

ECLOSION: Little is known about the eclosions of the earth pupators, but many believe pupae wiggle toward the surface just prior to emergence. These pupae were difficult to scan as they were very active. Pachysphinx modesta pupae are quite large compared to those of other Sphingidae, especially here on P.E.I.

SCENTING AND MATING

Female Pachysphinx modesta extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen to lure in the night flying males whose large claspers are frequently wide open as they fly in to lights around midnight.

Livestock of the Modest Sphinx is usually available in the fall.

Tim Dyson, Peterborough, Ontario, and I (Bill Oehlke, Montague, Prince Edward Island) have both noticed a preponderance of males early in the flight season, followed by a much greater number of females as the season progresses.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Pachysphinx modesta eggs are quite large and a translucent pale green. As incubation (8-10 days) progresses, the eggs turn a shiny bronze color. Tim Dyson sent this image to "to show how they 'ripen like grapes' prior to hatching." Moths oviposit readily in brown paper bags.

Warmth hastens the development of the eggs which hatch 8-12 days after deposition. Larvae have a characteristic pattern and colouration even as hatchlings, as is evident in these images of a day old larvae, courtesy of Tim Dyson. They also rest in typical Sphingidae pose.

These hornworms feed upon poplar, willow, and cottonwood, are very strong and develop to quite a size. Larvae progress very rapidly on poplar. The green of the early hornworm instars is very much like the top of the poplar leaf while the pale green of the final instar more closely resembles the color of the underside of poplar leaves. Larvae are extremely strong with powerful mandibles. Here a third instar hornworm larva has dark green coloration with yellow body lines. Scan by Bill Oehlke.

Just prior to pupation larvae take on a light purplish hue, descend the tree and will chew right through my Remay sleeves if I don't remove them. This species pupates readily under artificial conditions, and pupae are large (50mm long), dull, dark, and rough.

Shannon Larsen sent me the beautiful images below of a male (note arched abdomen) Pachysphinx modesta, taken August 21st, 2004, in Centerview, Missouri.

One does not often get to see the underside of this moth as a live specimen, but Tim Dyson provides a "quick shot" (below) of a female (top) making a landing. The underside of the hindwing is not nearly as vibrant as the dorsal surface.

Foodplants:

Populus grandidenta .......

Large-toothed/Bigtooth Aspen

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