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Adult — Switzerland County (Tara Hite)
Adult with exposed hindwings showing dark eye-spot — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Side view of an adult — Marion County (Nathan France)
Adult with a quarter for size — LaGrange County (Sam Plew
Caterpillar — Porter County (Nathaneal Pilla)
Caterpillar — Jasper County (Chris Joll)
An Indiana Native

Paonias excaecata — Blinded Sphinx

(J. E. Smith, 1797)

excaecata Species Paonias Genus Smerinthini Tribe Smerinthinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
excaecata Species Paonias Genus Smerinthini Tribe Smerinthinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7824

Etymology

Paonias: Unknown

Excaecata: Most likely a derivative of the Latin word excaeco, meaning “to blind” because this species lacks a center pupil in the eye-spot on the hindwings.

Pronunciation

PAY-own-ee-us EX-cee-cah-tuh

Adult — Switzerland County (Tara Hite)
Adult with exposed hindwings showing dark eye-spot — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Side view of an adult — Marion County (Nathan France)
Adult with a quarter for size — LaGrange County (Sam Plew
Caterpillar — Porter County (Nathaneal Pilla)
Caterpillar — Jasper County (Chris Joll)

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Blinded Sphinx moth in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

species present icon GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date County Observer Notes Image1 Image2
2024-07-27 Brown Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-07-15 Owen Cochran, Jess
2023-07-28 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-07-22 DeKalb Bachmann, Bronson
2023-07-22 DeKalb Bachmann, Bronson
2023-07-22 DeKalb Bachmann, Bronson
2023-07-22 DeKalb Bachmann, Bronson
2023-07-22 DeKalb Bachmann, Bronson
2023-07-22 Fayette Kant, Nancy
2023-06-03 Newton Jaskula, Jeanette
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Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-07-27
County: Brown
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2024-07-15
County: Owen
Observer: Cochran, Jess
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-28
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: DeKalb
Observer: Bachmann, Bronson
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: DeKalb
Observer: Bachmann, Bronson
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: DeKalb
Observer: Bachmann, Bronson
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: DeKalb
Observer: Bachmann, Bronson
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: DeKalb
Observer: Bachmann, Bronson
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-22
County: Fayette
Observer: Kant, Nancy
Notes:
Date: 2023-06-03
County: Newton
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
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Paonias excaecata Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

Blinded Sphinx caterpillars host on a wide variety of trees. Adults do not feed.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Dipsicales
AdoxaceaeViburnum spp.viburnums
Order: Fabales
FabaceaeWisteria spp.wisterias
Order: Fagales
BetulaceaeBetula spp.birches
Carpinus carolinianamusclewood, aka blue beech
Corylus americanaAmerican hazelnut
Ostrya virginianahop-hornbeam, aka ironwood
FagaceaeCastanea dentataAmerican chestnut
Fagus grandifoliaAmerican beech
Quercus spp.oaks
Order: Lamiales
OleaceaeFraxinus spp.ashes
Order: Malvales
TiliaceaeTilia americanaAmerican basswood
Order: Rosales
RosaceaeAmelanchier spp.serviceberries
Chaenomeles speciosaChinese quince
Crataegus spp.hawthorns
Malus spp.apples and crabapples
Physocarpus opulifoliusninebark
Prunus spp.cherries
Pyrus spp.pears
Rosa spp.roses
Rubus spp.blackberries, dewberries, and raspberries
Spirea spp.meadowsweets
UlmaceaeUlmus spp.elms
Order: Salicales
SalicaceaePopulus spp.poplars
Salix spp.willows
Order: Sapindales
AceraceaeAcer spp.maples