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 121 - 144 of 1314 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Rosebud246
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: AWren
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: Tmg75
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: Don Marotte
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: Udderfly
Region: Jackson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2021
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: NaeDuttin
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Cwaisanen
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Tvawter
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: Carlampr
Region: Kitsap County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2021
Submitted by: ChrissieinWV
Region: Jackson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: kcdemille
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Sand
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: Heidisudbury
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: one72guy
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: Beth Lee
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: kcdemille
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 05, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2021
Submitted by: Lppaille
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
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