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 97 - 120 of 1312 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/blinded_sphinx_moth_3.jpg?itok=rBRBioPP)
Observation date: Jun 09, 2022
Submitted by: jlstory828
Region: Alexander County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/4b37773c-484f-496d-bccb-0eeaf44b811e.jpeg?itok=q80d-LMf)
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: bacorreia
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20220520_120305.jpg?itok=FwHHVh87)
Observation date: May 20, 2022
Submitted by: Tammykelley67
Region: Little River County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 31, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20200806_133223.jpg?itok=P-_0CSmA)
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: troberts966
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20210712_165707.jpg?itok=DmfUm9t1)
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: AmberMarie19
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 14, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p6292257.jpg?itok=RA1paMMO)
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: Scotiaspinner
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/joycekilmernf10-23-14dsc_0016.jpg?itok=OBUnaDhm)
Observation date: Oct 23, 2014
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_06241.jpg?itok=1aI2vvfr)
Observation date: Oct 08, 2011
Submitted by: animallovr429
Region: Passaic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 24, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/bamona_moth_paonias_excaecata_beatys_img_1145.jpg?itok=pX0aaeXQ)
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 04, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn8530.jpg?itok=Cafou7k7)
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 06, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/unknown_60.jpg?itok=llZ5GI2r)
Observation date: Jul 30, 2021
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/5acb6335-f2f5-4584-b5d1-83882ca9a1e5.jpeg?itok=2-eLGLyh)
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: AquaKait
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20210908_140433802.jpg?itok=WXrz6PLh)
Observation date: Sep 08, 2021
Submitted by: EllieRose
Region: Pulaski County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn6178_2.jpg?itok=Cypb1Ksn)
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20210830_210039244.jpg?itok=DWqA3154)
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: Bgreat
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ae494d42-f315-42fb-8849-aa2ec74f0072.jpeg?itok=CGVtiIss)
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: KirstenRank
Region: Granville County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn6765_2.jpg?itok=qlBx3E1D)
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3020_4.jpg?itok=j8hR44pi)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: tom howe
Region: North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2f9af573-2813-4af1-8803-1685078ed66e.jpeg?itok=C1KLiDMG)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: Kverdine
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/5e3c180b-50b0-47a6-a8b5-17d3d94af356.jpeg?itok=ww8I72rj)
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: sheritresko
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20210729_190800511.jpg?itok=9CCmwW1y)
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: mka0425
Region: Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/mothnc.jpg?itok=KYVIGdEA)
Observation date: Jul 22, 2021
Submitted by: Jess D
Region: Swain County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn6543.jpg?itok=SZoXDFKl)
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/bebcfaad-ba26-480e-bbde-a9f57fe3fcb1.jpeg?itok=4bdvWjId)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Rosebud246
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
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