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 1291 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: May 26, 2022
Submitted by: Jennie Lanzendorf
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: HCGregory
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: Elaina Hall
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: keyofpel
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: NominBray
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: MarkSCitsay
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: GLJ033
Region: Anoka County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Blanton
Region: Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: burianeek
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Angierice
Region: Madison County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jul 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2022
Submitted by: RobJ
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: rmery
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Kitsap County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: Cherrystorm123
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
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