Big poplar sphinx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big poplar sphinx |
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Pachysphinx
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P. occidentalis
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| Pachysphinx occidentalis (H. Edwards, 1875)
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The Big Poplar Sphinx (scientific name: Pachysphinx occidentalis) is a type of moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Sphingidae, often known as hawk-moths or sphinx moths. A scientist named Henry Edwards first officially described this species in 1875. You can find this moth across Canada and the United States. It often lives near rivers and streams, and even in some suburban areas.
Contents
About the Big Poplar Sphinx Moth
What Does the Big Poplar Sphinx Look Like?
This moth is quite large! Its wingspan can be between 130 and 150 millimeters. That's about 5 to 6 inches wide.
Big Poplar Sphinx moths come in two main color types. One type is pale, with yellow-brown front wings. The other type is darker, with dark gray front wings. Both types have clear lines and patterns on their wings. The back wings have a bright red or crimson patch. This patch covers different amounts of the wing. There are also two dark lines on the back wings. These lines do not form a clear triangle shape.
Where Does the Big Poplar Sphinx Live?
This moth lives in many parts of North America. You can find it throughout Canada and the United States. It prefers places near water, like riverbanks and streams. It can also be found in suburban areas, which are neighborhoods outside of big cities.
What is Its Life Cycle Like?
The Big Poplar Sphinx moth has different life cycles depending on where it lives. In warmer places like southern Arizona, there are two generations each year. This means two groups of moths grow up and fly around. Adults are usually seen from May to September.
Farther north, where it's colder, there is only one generation per year. In these areas, adult moths are typically seen flying from June to August.
What Do the Larvae Eat?
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, have specific food preferences. They mainly eat the leaves of certain trees. Their favorite foods are cottonwood trees, which belong to the Populus family. They also enjoy eating different types of willow trees.
Subspecies
Sometimes, a species can have slightly different groups within it. These groups are called subspecies. The Big Poplar Sphinx has two known subspecies:
- Pachysphinx occidentalis occidentalis: This subspecies is found from Alberta and North Dakota in the north. It stretches west to eastern Washington. In the south, it reaches Texas, Arizona, southern California, and Baja California Norte.
- Pachysphinx occidentalis regalis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903: This subspecies lives in Mexico.
Images for kids
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Young larva
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Eggs
