A Small-eyed Sphinx

Small-eyed Sphinx - Hodges#7825 (Paonias myops)

     

This moth was given to the class by a tiny K student, who handled it ably and professionally as he was taught. He even refrigerated it to calm it so it would not ruin its scales. As always, we took photos in class, but I was so happy to see the moth and to hear how he handled it that I missed some vital poses that I usually take with sphinx moths: a hand shot, a close up headshot, and, necessary with sphinx moths, an open wing shot.  It was safely released when photos were completed.

I had never seen this species before. I've shot the plentiful one-eyed sphinx and blinded sphinx, but never this. I had not even heard of this species before. I've learned that it is not uncommon, not rare. It is present in southern Canada and nearly all of the US. It is plentiful. Just not on my land. All of the photos I have seen have the same saturated brown tones.

But why is it called small-eyed? I found a photo taken by my fellow moth-er Joanne Russo, one of Vermont's greatest moth photographers and chronicalers, and share it here. You can see the small, dark "eyes" when the wings are open.

Joanne Russo 

Some rights reserved.

Absolutely I am keeping my eyes wide open for more of this guy.

You can probably find it, too.

from bugguide.net

_/\_/\_