"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
Blinded Sphinx
Paonias excaecata (J.E.Smith, 1797) P-no. 890144
Host plant: Found on black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Date found: 5 August, 2026
Location found: Ste. Genevieve County, MO
Notes: Note the red blotches that are surrounded by yellow, nicely mimicking later season leaves. This undoubtedly provides nice camouflage and may explain why certain color morphs are found on certain hosts.
Blinded Sphinx
Paonias excaecata fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7824)
Host plant(s): Found on willow (Salix sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 17 September, 2025 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, St. Louis County; 18-September, 2025 – Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: I collected one of these to rear that has now pupated. Hopefully I will find a fantastic adult in the spring.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 