What’s In My Backyard?

Meet the Neighbors: Blinded Sphinx moth

This big beautiful moth is called the Blinded Sphinx Moth. Blinded? Does that mean it can’t see? Surprisingly this name has nothing to do with the moth’s eyes. The moth has perfectly functional eyes. Instead, the name refers to the bright blue eyespots on its lower wings. In the pictures, you can see them partly peeking out from under the patterned upper wings. Many species of moth and butterfly have eyespots but most of them have a dark spot in the middle of the eye spot like the pupil of an eye. This moth lacks those pupil spots and so it’s “blinded”! The adult moth of this species does not eat so it only lives a short time. During their short adult lives, the moths mate and lay eggs, ensuring there will be more sphinx moths next year.