About Paonias excaecata Smith, 1797
Paonias excaecata (Smith, 1797) has a wingspan ranging from 60 to 85 mm. Adult moths of this species are nocturnal. After a short period of activity right after dusk, they prefer to be active during the later hours of the night. The eggs of this moth are small and greenish yellow. Hornworm larvae hatch approximately 8 days after the eggs are laid. The main food sources for larvae include deciduous trees like willows, birch, and cherries, as well as shrubs such as ninebark and roses. Like all other members of the Sphingidae family, these moths pupate by burrowing shallowly into soil. After adults emerge from their pupae, they mate almost immediately. Adult Paonias excaecata do not feed. This species can be found across Canada, from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island all the way west to British Columbia. In the United States, its range extends south to Florida in the east, west to eastern California, and as far south as central Texas in the west.
