Paonias myops — Small-eyed Sphinx

(J. E. Smith, 1797)

Hodges# 7825

Etymology

Paonias: Unknown

Myops: Combines the Greek word myein, meaning “to shut” and ops, meaning “eye.”

Pronunciation

PAY-own-ee-us MY-ops

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Small-eyed 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).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2024-08-30	Newton	Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-07-14	Lake	Welton, Rick
2024-07-05	Hamilton	Kant, Nancy
2024-05-25	Newton	Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-05-18	Newton	Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-05-15	Porter	Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-05-12	Brown	Pollock, Michele
2023-08-09	St. Joseph	Serry, Joleen
2023-08-04	Newton	Jaskula, Jeanette
2023-08-01	Owen	Pettigrew, Laura

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2024-08-30 County: Newton Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2024-07-14 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes:
Date: 2024-07-05 County: Hamilton Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes:
Date: 2024-05-25 County: Newton Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2024-05-18 County: Newton Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2024-05-15 County: Porter Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2024-05-12 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele Notes:
Date: 2023-08-09 County: St. Joseph Observer: Serry, Joleen Notes:
Date: 2023-08-04 County: Newton Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2023-08-01 County: Owen Observer: Pettigrew, Laura Notes:

Paonias myops Sightings by Month

Notes

After eating the leaf it is hosting on, the Small-eyed Sphinx caterpillar will chew through the petiole of the leaf in order to make it fall to the ground. By discarding damaged leaves they can avoid tipping off predators that look for chewed leaves that could tip off predators to their location.

Conservation Status

• Global status: G5 (secure)
• National status: N5 (secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Small-eyed 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: Fagales
Betulaceae	Betula spp.	birches
	Corylus americana	American hazelnut
Order: Lamiales
Oleaceae	Ligustrum spp.	privets
	Syringa spp.	lilacs
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Amelanchier spp.	serviceberries
	Crataegus spp.	hawthorns
	Malus spp.	apples and crabapples
	Prunus spp.	cherries
Order: Salicales
Salicaceae	Populus spp.	poplars
	Salix spp.	willows
Order: Sapindales
Aceraceae	Acer spp.	maples
Order: Vitales
Vitaceae	Vitis spp.	grapes