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 25 - 48 of 1317 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: Carrrrrrrooooo
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: Siriboa
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 19, 2023
Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: JJP_1204
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 04, 2023
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
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: geomichele
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2019
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: vlado47
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2023
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Webster County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: catbirdcat
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: BonnieNatt
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: Zebrahunter
Region: Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: LyndaB
Region: New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: rlokar
Region: Lake County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: DRLem23ME
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: orchidarea
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: WiliestLibrarian
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
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