Modest Sphinx
Common NameModest Sphinx
Scientific NamePachysphinx modesta
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilySmerinthinae
Wingspan (mm)100
Primary Colorsgray, brown
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, riparian areas, suburban areas
Geographic RangeNorth America (southern Canada to Mexico)
Host PlantsPopulus, Salix, Betula, Ulmus, Fraxinus
Flight PeriodMay to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with white stripes and a caudal horn, pupating in an underground chamber. Typically one or two generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its large size, the specific mottled grayish-brown forewing pattern with a darker basal patch, and the characteristic red-pink hindwings with a blue eyespot (though often concealed at rest). The slightly scalloped outer margin of the forewings is also distinctive.
Description
A large, robust moth with cryptically patterned grayish-brown forewings featuring darker basal patches and wavy lines. The hindwings, often hidden at rest, typically display a striking red-pink patch with a blue and black eyespot.
