Family Sphingidae   Hodges # 7828

Caterpillar foods: poplar, aspen, cottonwood, and willow (Bugguide)

6/10/2015

 

5/23/2010 – female came to lights

 

Another view that shows her size – one wing is almost as long as my finger.

 

I kept her in a cage overnight, and she laid about 12 eggs.  They were green at first, and then they turned purple.

5/26/2010

 

First instar caterpillars – 6/3/2010

 

6/14/2010

 

6/18/2010

 

6/30/2010

 

6/30/2010 – eating an aspen leaf

 

6/30/2010

 

They pupated shortly after this.  This photo of the pupae was taken on 9/20/2010.

 

The pupae were kept in the refrigerator all winter, and then placed outside in late March.  The first adults started hatching at the beginning of June 2011.

Reared female emerged 6/2/2011

 

I put released her onto a small tree outside our house.  By the next day she had attracted a mate.

6/3/2011

 

7/26/2012

 

6/7/2013

 

6/7/2013