Kebnat
INSECTS

Modest Sphinx

Pachysphinx modesta

Insects
Native
Modest Sphinx, photo 1 of 5
Modest Sphinx, Caterpillar
Modest Sphinx, Male
7.6–12 cmWingspan

Butterfly or moth in the family Sphingidae with a wingspan of 7.6–12 cm. Feeds on plants.

There are 599 observations of Modest Sphinx in Québec, mostly in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Estrie and Capitale-Nationale, and it has been reported in 15 of the 17 regions. They peak in June and become rare from September to May.

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Where to see it

  1. Abitibi-Témiscamingue134
  2. Estrie83
  3. Capitale-Nationale75
  4. Outaouais55
  5. Montérégie49
  6. Bas-Saint-Laurent38
  7. Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine30
  8. Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean27
  9. Laurentides24
  10. Mauricie24
  11. Nord-du-Québec18
  12. Lanaudière18
  13. Chaudière-Appalaches11
  14. Côte-Nord11
  15. Centre-du-Québec2

What the caterpillar eats

Quaking aspenPopulus tremuloides
TOXIC
Balsam poplarPopulus balsamifera
Black poplarPopulus nigra
Yellow birchBetula alleghaniensis
Eastern cottonwoodPopulus deltoides
Bigtooth aspenPopulus grandidentata
Common crabappleMalus domestica

Similar species

Blinded SphinxPaonias excaecata
Walnut SphinxAmorpha juglandis
Polyphemus MothAntheraea polyphemus
Twin-spotted SphinxSmerinthus jamaicensis
One-eyed SphinxSmerinthus cerisyi
Great Ash SphinxSphinx chersis
Waved SphinxCeratomia undulosa
North American Luna MothActias luna
Elm SphinxCeratomia amyntor
Small-eyed SphinxPaonias myops
Virginia Creeper SphinxDarapsa myron
White-dotted ProminentNadata gibbosa