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 1 - 24 of 1355 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2026
Submitted by: Carolupnorth
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 27, 2026
Observation date: Jul 14, 2026
Submitted by: Moth-Laurentides
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 21, 2026
Observation date: Jul 15, 2026
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2026
Observation date: Jul 20, 2026
Submitted by: DutchGardenGirl
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 20, 2026
Observation date: Jul 20, 2026
Submitted by: Ptcat3
Region: Webster County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2026
Observation date: Jul 10, 2026
Submitted by: Purple Pyr
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 16, 2026
Observation date: Jun 22, 2026
Submitted by: Emmalyne Gose
Region: Crook County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 01, 2026
Observation date: May 16, 2026
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2026
Observation date: Jun 26, 2026
Submitted by: Stu Adams
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2026
Observation date: Jun 24, 2026
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: Frostedragon
Region: Muskingum County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 19, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 13, 2026
Submitted by: poffle
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: wardally
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 04, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: Cherylk
Region: Orleans County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: ExplorerMama
Region: Isanti County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Nov 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: saturniidoll
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 18, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Iron County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: May 14, 2025
Submitted by: JulCus
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: scottj4hops
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 26, 2025
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: Michele Pollock
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: Nikkyroo
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 24, 2025
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