# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Blinded Sphinx](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Paonias_excaecatus_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_222_Georgia_USA_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paonias_excaecatus_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_222_Georgia_USA_male.jpg) ## Appearance 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." ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Paonias ## Interesting facts - 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. ## Special abilities - **Surprise Eyes:** Blinded Sphinx can flash large, "blinded" eyespots on its hindwings to startle predators and give itself a chance to escape. - **Hovering Sensation:** Blinded Sphinx can hover like a hummingbird to sip nectar from flowers using its long proboscis. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 50-70 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on tree leaves; adults don't eat at all! - **Age differences:** Caterpillars are voracious leaf-eaters, but adult moths do not feed. - **Primary Foods:** Willow leaves, Poplar leaves, Birch leaves, Apple leaves, Ash leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Black Willow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-willow) (*Salix nigra*) — Larvae feed on the leaves. - **Eats:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — A primary host plant for caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Nocturnal bats hunt adult moths. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds eat caterpillars and moths. - **Parasitizes:** Tachinid Fly (*Compsilura concinnata*) — Larvae are parasitized by this fly. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moths are usually safe to watch, but don't touch them as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blinded Sphinx? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blinded Sphinx's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Blinded Sphinx? 50-70 mm ### How long does Blinded Sphinx live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Blinded Sphinx fly? 35 km/h ### What does Blinded Sphinx eat? Caterpillars munch on tree leaves; adults don't eat at all! ### Where is Blinded Sphinx usually found? Forests ### How does Blinded Sphinx hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Chilocco Indian Agricultural School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chilocco-indian-agricultural-school) — Oklahoma, US · Campus - [East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-wetumpka-commercial-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Lock and Dam No. 19](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lock-and-dam-no-19) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Lower Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Manchester](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manchester) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District [View all places to see Blinded Sphinx](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blinded-sphinx) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blinded Sphinx: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blinded-sphinx)