Blinded sphinx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blinded sphinx |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Paonias
|
| Species: |
excaecatus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The blinded sphinx (scientific name: Paonias excaecatus) is a type of moth. It belongs to a family of moths called Sphingidae, often known as hawk-moths or sphinx moths. This moth was first officially described by a scientist named James Edward Smith in 1797.
Contents
Where Does the Blinded Sphinx Live?
You can find the blinded sphinx moth across a large part of North America. In Canada, it lives from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island on the east coast all the way to British Columbia on the west coast. In the United States, it can be found as far south as Florida in the east. It also lives west to eastern California and south to central Texas.
What Does the Blinded Sphinx Look Like?
The blinded sphinx moth has a wingspan of about 60 to 85 millimeters (about 2.4 to 3.3 inches). This is roughly the length of a credit card.
Life at Night
Adult moths are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. They usually fly around for a short time right after sunset. After that, they prefer to be active during the later hours of the night.
Life Cycle of the Moth
The life of a blinded sphinx moth starts as a small, greenish-yellow egg. After about eight days, a tiny caterpillar, also called a hornworm, hatches from the egg.
What Do Caterpillars Eat?
These hornworms love to eat the leaves of certain trees and shrubs. Their favorite foods include willow trees, birch trees, and cherry trees. They also enjoy shrubs like ninebark and roses.
Becoming a Pupa
Once the caterpillar is fully grown, it burrows into the soil. It makes a shallow hole to change into a pupa. This is a resting stage where the caterpillar transforms into an adult moth.
Adult Moths Don't Eat
After leaving the pupa, the adult moths are ready to mate almost right away. Interestingly, adult blinded sphinx moths do not eat at all. They rely on the energy they stored as caterpillars.
Gallery
-
A blinded sphinx caterpillar
-
A male blinded sphinx moth, seen from above
-
A male blinded sphinx moth, seen from below
-
A female blinded sphinx moth, seen from above
-
A female blinded sphinx moth, seen from below
