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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

Huckleberry Sphinx Moth
Paonias astylus Paonias astylus, the Huckleberry sphinx


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16 Comments

ceherzog
ceherzog 11 years ago

Thanks Telse & Irungbam!

Beautiful..

Telse
Telse 11 years ago

That's something else.Wow!

ceherzog
ceherzog 11 years ago

Thanks so much Luis!

LuisStevens
LuisStevens 11 years ago

Great series ceherzog

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Great series :)

ceherzog
ceherzog 11 years ago

Thanks Joshua & Mayra!

Josh Asel
Josh Asel 11 years ago

totally crazy!

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wow!

ceherzog
ceherzog 11 years ago

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

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 11 years ago

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

ceherzog
ceherzog 11 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
ceherzog 11 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.

LarryGraziano
LarryGraziano 11 years ago

great spotting!!!!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 11 years ago

I put an ID up, but think it might be something similar. It is a most wonderful moth.

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 11 years ago

I have never seen anything like it! Wonderful you found it!

ceherzog
Spotted by
ceherzog

Rosman, North Carolina, USA

Spotted on Jul 27, 2012
Submitted on Jul 27, 2012

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