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 1317 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: T Korzeniecki
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: Suze125
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Ajaarsma
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: ActiasLunaTn
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: dcolb121
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Ilanaiolivigni3
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: Brankin21
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: Steve Davies
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: Debarace
Region: Texas, Wood County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: Apr 29, 2023
Submitted by: jgalarzacald
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Saunders
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2016
Submitted by: singingfalls
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: sallygoround0734
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2016
Submitted by: LillyK
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Staci Gibson
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Dec 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: Taramussatto
Region: Clay County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Willemo
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Angieb
Region: Franklin County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: disteffv
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
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