Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Small-eyed sphinx
Paonias myops (J.E. Smith, 1797)


Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Female is usually larger than the male. Forewings are smoothly indented, not scalloped. Colors and markings are variable. Upperside of wings varies from brown to black. Forewing has wavy lines ranging from pronounced to faint; hindwing has a small to large yellow patch enclosing a single black-rimmed eyespot.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 15/16 inches (4.5 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: . Several broods; from February-October in Louisiana, and from May-September elsewhere.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants including western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), black cherry (P. serotina), sour cherry (P. cerasus), service berry (Amelanchier), and basswood (Tilia).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: A wide variety of deciduous woodlands and wooded habitats, and suburbs.
Range: Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida; west to British Columbia and Washington, California, and Arizona; also south into Mexico.
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.
Comments: NULL
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