Blinded Sphinx

Paonias excaecata

The Blinded Sphinx is a special moth that loves to fly at night. Its wings are big and beautiful, and it can be found fluttering around flowers, especially in the summer.

Hábitat: Forests

Aspecto

The Blinded Sphinx is a large, fuzzy moth with a thick body and mottled brown, tan, and gray forewings that mimic tree bark. Its hindwings famously feature a large, blue-centered "eyespots" that are partly obscured by a black patch, making them look "blinded."

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaSphingidaeGéneroPaonias

Blinded Sphinx

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Adult Blinded Sphinx moths do not eat at all! They live off the energy stored as caterpillars.

Baby Blinded Sphinx moths, called caterpillars, are huge green giants with a pointy "horn" on their tail!

Despite their name, Blinded Sphinx moths can see perfectly well! Their "blinded" eyespots are just a clever trick.

These amazing moths are only active at night, silently flying through gardens and forests.

Habilidades especiales

Blinded Sphinx can flash large, "blinded" eyespots on its hindwings to startle predators and give itself a chance to escape.

Blinded Sphinx can hover like a hummingbird to sip nectar from flowers using its long proboscis.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 70-100 mm
Tamaño: 50-70 mm
Esperanza de vida: 7-14 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 35 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Caterpillars munch on tree leaves; adults don't eat at all!

Diferencias por edad: Caterpillars are voracious leaf-eaters, but adult moths do not feed.

Alimentos principales

Willow leaves
Poplar leaves
Birch leaves
Apple leaves
Ash leaves

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eats

Black Willow

Salix nigra

Larvae feed on the leaves.

eats

Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloides

A primary host plant for caterpillars.

eaten by

Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Nocturnal bats hunt adult moths.

eaten by

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Birds eat caterpillars and moths.

parasitizes

Tachinid Fly

Compsilura concinnata

Larvae are parasitized by this fly.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.