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Blinded sphinx
Paonias excaecata (J.E. Smith, 1797)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Outer margins of the forewings are strongly scalloped, with white fringe on the concave part of the scallops. Forewing upperside is pale gray to dark reddish brown; underside has pink at the base. Upperside of hindwing is pale to dark brown with a broad pink patch at the base and a single blue eyespot.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 3 3/4 inches (5.5 - 9.5 cm).
Life History: Eggs hatch seven to eight days after they are laid. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in underground chambers.
Flight: . Three broods in Florida from March-October, several broods in Louisiana from March-September, and one or two broods in the rest of the range from May-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of deciduous trees including basswood (Tilia), willow (Salix), birch (Betula), hawthorn (Crataegus), poplar (Populus), oaks (Quercus), ocean spray (Holodiscus), and cherry (Prunus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous woods, other wooded habitats, and suburbs.
Range: Throughout most of the United States and southern Canada from Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida; west to British Columbia and Washington, northern California, and Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Paonias excaecatus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1307 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240726_014823.jpg?itok=BlVZlBJZ)
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Crystal bailey
Region: Cabell County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 26, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240717_070646.jpg?itok=azWit7Pi)
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: todonnell
Region: Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/m2_18.jpg?itok=dRYjZNDl)
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: Latenight
Region: Cameron County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/resized_20240709_073440.jpeg?itok=SDVGzpM8)
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: Passeri
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: maphillips2
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240703_000452.1.jpg?itok=gRzE4V64)
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
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Observation date: Oct 29, 2023
Submitted by: Lampalex
Region: Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5438_0.jpeg?itok=P9aecKns)
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: pammymp
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240621_083323.jpg?itok=8kQIDHkA)
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: KARINENOWLAN
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240613_064659.jpg?itok=R5JlN3Jm)
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1187_0.jpeg?itok=iMiEC93G)
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: ABakedBean
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/paonias_excaecatus_blinded_sphinx_dsc_0009.jpg?itok=p-gwlsDi)
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0127_7.jpg?itok=kzJ2szb_)
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6287_1.jpeg?itok=aUocWTq3)
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: Carrrrrrrooooo
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
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Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: Siriboa
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn9537.jpg?itok=gXXhJpgZ)
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 19, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230822_070240.jpg?itok=h_j50pee)
Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: JJP_1204
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/qq_blinded_sphinx.23-05-27.750.helmecken_lodge.bc_.canada.jpg?itok=ky5lX63V)
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn9289.jpg?itok=1jGBh7HI)
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 12, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/231001142353wc.jpg?itok=jNcD-dse)
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn7244.jpg?itok=lGFc8yrc)
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 02, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20230905_122244865.jpg?itok=85IXvsh5)
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20200721_132723.jpg?itok=jMZPyWTE)
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: geomichele
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
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