Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Paonias Members:	86 NC Records

Paonias astylus (Drury, 1773) - Huckleberry Sphinx

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Smerinthinae

Tribe:
Smerinthini

P3 Number:
890146

MONA Number:
7826.00

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)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: With narrow forewings that cover only the eyespot on the hindwings when at rest, leaving the outer margin of the hindwing projecting forward, this is clearly a Paonias species. The relatively smooth brown ground color, shaded with light gray or lavender, is distinctive, as is the completely straight outer margin of the forewing. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 5.5 - 6.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to other Paonias but are often blotched with pink (Forbes, 1948). Pupation occurs underground.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Occurs statewide with the possible exception of the Barrier Islands.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Appears to have a two flights in the Mountains and possibly three in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from a wide variety of heath-containing habitats. These include Wet Pine Flatwoods, Pocosins, and dry-to-xeric Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhills in the Coastal Plain; dry Pine-Oak-Heath habitats in the Piedmont and lower Mountains; and Heath Balds in the High Mountains.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on blueberries (Vaccinium) and huckleberries (Gaylussacia), both in the Ericaceae. As of 2024, our only feeding record is for Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa). - View

Observation Methods: Like other members of the genus adults of this species are attracted to lights but have not been recorded visiting flowers nor coming to baits.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Dry Heath Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Once considered to be quite rare, this species is taken in light traps with regularity each year. Although a specialist on heath-containing habitats, it is not restricted with regard to moisture regime or presence/absence of a canopy cover; several different heaths appear to be used across the state. Although somewhat vulnerable to the effects of habitat fragmentation, this species appears to be fairly secure.

Photo Gallery for Paonias astylus - Huckleberry Sphinx

43 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Emily Meister on 2025-07-16 Randolph Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-21 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-21 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: A. Garton, M. Prinz on 2024-07-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-07-25 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-07-09 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-24 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Beth on 2022-06-22 Polk Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-17 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-08-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-18 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-07-15 Polk Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen and Pat McConnell on 2019-07-24 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Peter Dixon on 2019-04-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-22 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-08-14 Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2016-06-29 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2016-06-29 Yancey Co. Comment: