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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 49 - 72 of 1307 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230516_181951.jpg?itok=jyw26Oms)
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: Steve Davies
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0544.jpeg?itok=jswETbb-)
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: Debarace
Region: Texas, Wood County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230429_104244.jpg?itok=vl1aTd3Q)
Observation date: Apr 29, 2023
Submitted by: jgalarzacald
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 29, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc04497_to_be_sent.jpg?itok=oVWheKUH)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Saunders
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/moth_824.jpg?itok=o1LGrudJ)
Observation date: Jun 04, 2016
Submitted by: singingfalls
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/moth_picture_4.jpg?itok=oBdAbXG3)
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: sallygoround0734
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0829_2.jpg?itok=t5tqgYYw)
Observation date: Jul 13, 2016
Submitted by: LillyK
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20170719_094553678_120449.jpg?itok=hUiWvpUa)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Staci Gibson
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Dec 17, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ai3a6262.jpg?itok=nUKOgHI2)
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/5430b71e-e9d4-445c-a972-0a98208c1ea0.jpeg?itok=0Fhr8mcX)
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: Taramussatto
Region: Clay County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20180720_055920.jpg?itok=5dS2NkLB)
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Willemo
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3954_5.jpg?itok=dUlHBK-n)
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Angieb
Region: Franklin County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ai3a6647.jpg?itok=Zhh7Na__)
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ai3a6589.jpg?itok=kSgXdgFD)
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20210628_013645_hdr.jpg?itok=yHDrLkqt)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: FreeWolf
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20210628_013645_hdr.jpg?itok=yHDrLkqt)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: FreeWolf
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/paonias_excaecata_20180913_sand_creek_shlt_in_3.jpg?itok=vDlHAjwq)
Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1653582204581.jpg?itok=cqqR3buh)
Observation date: May 26, 2022
Submitted by: Jennie Lanzendorf
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/blinded_sphinx_img_8906.jpg?itok=NOmPm4y7)
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: HCGregory
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20220804_202354.jpg?itok=ptDcCewA)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: Elaina Hall
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20220801_011309767.jpg?itok=UxvOQbwT)
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: keyofpel
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6367_2.jpg?itok=yV8DzH5w)
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2761_blinded_sphinx_7_23_2022.jpg?itok=8UYPt86f)
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1901u.jpg?itok=STktbGYw)
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
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