Salicet Sphinx
Smerinthus saliceti
Prepupa & Pupa


Family:  Sphingidae
Subfamily:  Sphinginae
Tribe:  Smerithini
Hodges # 7823
Boisduval, 1875

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    LARVAE    
FEMALE & MALE


After eight days as fifth instar,
#1 changed color and walked off plant
seeking a suitable spot to pupate 25 June 2011

prepupa




#1 pre-pupa
prepupa





Prepupa  that  burrowed into the  sand .
 I took off the wood shavings  and poured off the sand to check on it. 
This is the underside that shows how it  formed a cocoon over itself.

prepupa in sand




Prepupa  that  burrowed into  sand and formed cocoon
prepupa in cocoon under sand




Prepupa in cocoon made by burrowing into sand. 
Can you see it?

cocoon in sand




Pupa #1 - 25 June 2011
#1 pupa 25 June 2011
Pupa #1 - 25 June 2011
#1 pupa 25 June 2011



PHOTO DETAILS - ŠNicky Davis
John Richards used a light trap to locate female 21 May 2011 at Catalina State Park, Near  Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. 


LIFE HISTORY:
Ovum:  About 10 days to hatch,  1.5 mm, slightly oblique in shape with central dimple on top.  They are slightly yellowish-cream color and were oviposited in groups on a paper sack for four days.
Larva:  These fed from  27 - 30 days before pupating. Maximum length was 70 mm , some were blue-ish and other more green.

Two pre-pupae were placed  in individual plastic containers that were 4.5 inch diameter- three inch high with recycled brown paper toweling lining the inside like a bowl and the same paper across the top and also the plastic lid.

One pre-pupa was in the same set-up but with wood shavings added.

Two pre-pupae were placed in the same paper lined container but  was half filled with fine sand from a pet supply store with wood shavings added over the sand to nearly  fill the container.  These pupae burrowed into the sand going against the bottom of the container.


Pupa:  Three days after  walking off plant and changing color, they pupated
Adult: 
Broods:
Hibernation:  Overwinters as

HOST PLANT:
Quaking Aspen, Salicaceae pupulus tremuloides


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