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Blinded sphinx
Paonias excaecata (J.E. Smith, 1797)
Attributes of Paonias excaecataFamily: Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) Subfamily: Sphinginae (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. 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. Wing span: 2 3/16 - 3 3/4 inches (5.5 - 9.5 cm). 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. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Paonias excaecata
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