blinded sphinx

not listed

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Blinded sphinx is a large to very large sphinx moth. It occurs across the United States and southern Canada. It is common in Minnesota. Adults are found from mid-June through mid-July in open deciduous forests and woodlands, woodland edges and clearings, and shrubby areas. Larva feed on a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs.

The adult is 1⅜″ to 2″ (35 to 50 mm) long and has a wingspan of 23⁄16″ to 3⅞″ (55 to 95 mm). The body is heavy, long, and tapered.

The antennae are thread-like, thickened, and somewhat spindle-shaped at the tip. The mouthparts are reduced. Adults do not feed.

The forewings are long and narrow with several lines and several shades of brown. The leading (costal) margin is convex near the wingtip, and the inner margin is concave near the end, giving the wing a curved appearance. The outer margin is strongly scalloped. The fringe is white. The median area is dark brown and tinted violet. The subterminal area is dark and sometimes tinted greenish. There is a thick black bar in the upper median area that connects to the antemedial (AM) line. The discal spot is a black dot. The hindwing is pink and has a large blue eyespot ringed with black. The eyespot does not have a small black spot (pupil) in the middle. This is the feature that gives the moth its common name.

The larva (caterpillar) is up to 3″ (7.5 cm) long. It is usually bright green, sometimes yellowish-green or bluish-green. The head, thorax, and abdomen are moderately covered with prominent, minute, white bumps. The head is broadly triangular, flattened, and framed with a thin pale line. A long, straight, horn extends at a 45° angle from the eighth abdominal segment. The horn is green with no blue. There is a pale subdorsal stripe on the thorax, and a bold whitish diagonal line that extends from the horn to just above the leg-like structure (proleg) on the sixth abdominal segment. Abdominal segments 1 through 6 each have a lateral, yellowish, diagonal line and small black circle surrounding the white respiratory opening (spiracle). Sometimes there is a wine-red spot on each abdominal segment in the subdorsal area and in the spiracular and/or subspiracular area. Mature caterpillars can be found from from May through November.

Total length: 1⅜″ to 2″ (35 to 50 mm)

Wingspan: 23⁄16″ to 3⅞″ (55 to 95 mm)

Deciduous forests and woodlands, woodland edges and clearings, and shrubby areas

One generation per year in Minnesota: Mid-June through mid-July

Adults are active at night and are attracted to light. When perched, the wings are held elevated, slightly away from the body, and parallel to the resting surface.

Pupae overwinter

Leaves of a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs

Adults do not feed.

Sources

21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 72, 75, 82, 83.

Common

I thought it was an old dry maple leaf as we have very mature trees, and it was on my deck table. Was going to pick it off and it startled me because it was soft! I very gently looked at it with a dry maple tree seed and it was alive and was not in distress.

I came out to put water out for the birds, so I thought it would be gone by morning. It’s shifted position but it was still there today. Doesn’t appear injured.

resting on back steps near dusk

On a crabapple tree at dusk

Interesting how it would look like a bat to the fence wire.

Location: Crystal, MN

I thought it was an old dry maple leaf as we have very mature trees, and it was on my deck table. Was going to pick it off and it startled me because it was soft! I very gently looked at it with a dry maple tree seed and it was alive and was not in distress.

I came out to put water out for the birds, so I thought it would be gone by morning. It’s shifted position but it was still there today. Doesn’t appear injured.

Location: Minneapolis

resting on back steps near dusk

Location: Connecticut

Location: Hennepin County

On a crabapple tree at dusk

Location: Cass County

Interesting how it would look like a bat to the fence wire.