Huckleberry Sphinx Moth

Paonias astylus

Description:

WS about 2" Both sexes rest with wings parallel to the resting surface, with the upper lobes of the hindwings protruding above the forewings. The lower abdomen of the male arcs upward toward the head, while the abdomen of the female hangs strait down on a vertical surface. So this is a male!

Habitat:

Western NC mountains

Notes:

Blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are the favorites as larval foodplants.

1 Species ID Suggestions

Carol Snow Milne 12 years ago

Huckleberry Sphinx Moth

Paonias astylus Paonias astylus, the Huckleberry sphinx

16 Comments

ceherzog 11 years ago

Thanks Telse & Irungbam!

IrungbamJatishworSingh 11 years ago

Beautiful..

Telse 11 years ago

That's something else.Wow!

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks so much Luis!

LuisStevens 12 years ago

Great series ceherzog

Jeannette 12 years ago

Great series :)

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks Joshua & Mayra!

Josh Asel 12 years ago

totally crazy!

MayraSpringmann 12 years ago

Wow!

ceherzog 12 years ago

Got it Carol...thanks ...there are lots of huckleberries around here...a very exciting find for me!

CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

Claire, it is a Huckleberry Sphinx Moth (Paonias astylus) ID by Thomas on FB

ceherzog 12 years ago

Hey Alice...I was very excited to see this moth at my basement window this morning. I left the light on all night...it's still there I think!

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks Carol..I thought it was a sphinx moth too...but I don't think it's the species you suggested...but maybe..the moths seem to be more colorful here in the mountains.