Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members: Paonias Members: 193 NC Records

Paonias myops (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Small-eyed Sphinx

Paonias myopsPaonias myopsPaonias myopsPaonias myops
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Sphingidae		Subfamily:
Smerinthinae		Tribe:
Smerinthini		P3 Number:
890145		 MONA Number:
7825.00
Comments: A Holarctic genus of 4 species of which 3 occur in North America and North Carolina. Two are among our most common species.
Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species in our area.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The typically dark forewings and lemon color on the hindwings around the ocellus distinguish this species from Smerinthus species and Paonias excaecata. Some forms are more yellowish, resembling Paonias astylus, but are more mottled and have a more waved outer margin on the forewing. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 4.5 - 7.5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae resemble those of other members of this genus: green with pale oblique stripes on the sides, the last one most prominent and extending to the base of the caudal horn; body granulate (see Wagner, 2005, for details). Pupation occurs underground.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Paonias myopsAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: There are likely two broods in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain but a single brood in the Mountains.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from virtually all wooded and shrubby habitats across the state, including maritime forests and scrub, peatlands, Longleaf Pine communities, floodplain forests, mesic slopes and dry ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on plants in the Rosaceae, particularly cherries, but also hawthorn and serviceberry (Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), which also seems to be the primary host in BugGuide records. - View
Observation Methods: Adults come readily to lights but not to flowers nor to bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Rosaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: With its statewide distribution, wide range of host plants, and broad habitat use, this species appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Paonias myops - Small-eyed Sphinx

 81 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-13
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-13
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-05
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-07-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-04
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-21
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-08
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-04-18
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-07
Polk Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-25
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-17
Polk Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-17
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-17
Polk Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-05-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-12
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Michael Wall on 2023-04-29
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-09-01
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Paonias myops
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Paonias myops
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-06-29
Carteret Co.
Comment: