Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecatus) (J. E. Smith, 1797) |
Synonyms: Paonias excaecata, Paonias pavonina, Calasymbolus excaecata, Sphinx excaecata, Blind-eyed Sphinx |
Paonias excaecatus is widely distributed in southern Canada and the contiguous United States. It occurs in open deciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, and shrubby areas. The wingspan is 55-95 mm. The upperside forewing is brown or grey-brown, with scalloped outer margins; the hindwing is pale brown with a broad pink base, and a small central blue spot. The larvae feed on of a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs from the Salicaceae (Populus and Salix spp.), Rosaceae (Amelanchier, Crataegus, Malus, Physocarpus, and Prunus spp.), Betulaceae (Betula and Ostrya spp.), basswood (Tilia americana), etc. Adults do not feed. One or two generation throughout most of the range (May-August), but three in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico.