FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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The one-eyed sphinx moth is a subfamily of Sphingidae and a family of moths that are most often seen at night. These moths of North America are scientifically known as Smerinthus cerisyi and are mostly found across Michigan, southern Canada, south California, and beyond. This particular species of moth is part of a group that has eyespots on its wings, which makes it easy to differentiate them from other moths.
The Smerinthus cerisyi sphinx is found mostly during the summer season. The species was first described in 1837 by William Kirby, who named it in honor of Alexandre Louise Lefebvre de Cerisy. They look brownish in appearance with eyespots on their wings and are indeed a beautiful moth species. These moths are not harmful to humans, instead, they are soft to touch. When they are larvae, they feed on plants, trees, and fruits, but adults do not eat.
If butterflies and moths species interest you, keep reading, and you can also check out our puss moth and Green June beetle facts too.
The one-eyed sphinx moth is a moth type of animal.
The one-eyed sphinx moth belongs to the Insecta class of animals.
The total number of Smerinthus cerisyi moths present in the world is unknown. Their distribution can be observed across the world, while in some regions they are more abundant than in others.
This moth species generally prefers to live in woodlands, since the weather and environment in this habitat are best suited for their well-being and survival.
Their distribution can be observed from Newfoundland and Maine across the northern states of America, to Michigan, southern Canada, British Columbia, Washington, and southern California. They also occur in Missouri and Tennessee. They are mostly seen during summer.
Smerinthus cerisyi are generally known to live alone.
The lifespan of this moth is just one year long.
Females lay oval green eggs on the leaves of trees, and the larvae that are born are green and plump with tiny white bumps all over them. These larvae then change from a green color to become paler or browner in color as they prepare to pupate in winter. The one-eyed sphinx moth caterpillar also has a blue horn that extends from the top of its body to its rear. They feed on plum and pear trees as they grow. The one-eyed sphinx moth lifecycle occurs just once per year.
The conservation status of these Smerinthus cerisyi moths of North America is currently Not Evaluated.
Smerinthus cerisyi moths (both males and females) are part of a group that has bright blue eyespots on their hindwings. This insect has a solitary bright blue eyespot with a large black pupil in the eyespot, located on its hindwing. On the other hand, twin-spotted sphinx moths usually have two eyespots, and the blinded sphinx moth lacks any large black pupils. Adults of this species can be found in a mix of dark brown and pale gray with a cross vein at the end of their discal cell. Other veins towards their outer margin are usually outlined in a paler brown color and have pink shading surrounding the blue eyespot. They also have a blue horn from the top of their body to the rear. One-eyed sphinx moth males are bigger than one-eyed sphinx moth females, but all one-eyed sphinx moths (both males and females) appear plump, soft, and smooth before they pupate. The presence of blue eyespots on the outer margin of each hindwing of these moths is the main feature that identifies them as Cerisy's sphinx moths.
This moth species is amazing to watch and they stand out from other moth species due to their unique wing patterns. They are a cute moth species, and their unique one-eyed sphinx moth life cycle makes the species interesting too.
These moths are silent and any means of communication or sounds are undetermined and rarely heard.
The one-eyed sphinx moth is the same size as many butterflies, it reaches a top size of 5 in (12 cm).
The exact flight speed of this species is not known, but they can be assumed to have a similar speed to many butterflies since these species are closely related to each other. Also, their speed of flight depends on the size of their wingspan.
This insect species can weigh up to 0.53 oz (15 g).
Males and females of this species do not have separate names.
The young babies of these insects are generally known as caterpillars and larvae.
One-eyed sphinx moths are herbivores that feed on willow trees, poplar trees, pear, plum, and other flowers.
No, these moths are not dangerous and they do not have a stinger like many wasps do. They are peaceful insects that move around calmly without harming anyone.
It is unusual to keep moths as a pet since they like to fly freely and forage food for themselves. If kept as a pet it would be too difficult to provide the correct food to eat to match their natural feeding habits. Also, their life cycle involves a lot of complex stages that can only be experienced properly in the wild. Also, their short lifespan makes them difficult pets to keep. Most people view these insects as pests and try to get rid of them if they appear in or near their homes. To kill sphinx moths or sphinx moth larvae you will need to use an approved insecticide that is specifically designed for this species of moth.
The sphinx moth species got its name from the fact that its larvae can tuck their heads underneath their body and lift their legs off the surface, forming what is generally understood as a praying position, resembling the Great Sphinx of Gaza. This is where the name 'sphinx moth' was derived from.
No, these moths are soft and are not naturally harmful in any way. However, some people may have an allergic reaction to this moth's small hair particles, making them sometimes toxic to consume or touch. Therefore, even though they are not naturally dangerous insects, it is better to keep a safe distance from these animals and it is important to not touch this moth since it can cause allergic reactions, especially to people with sensitive skin.
Several differences in physical descriptions of one-eyed sphinx moth males and females can be observed, this is useful when it comes to the identification of the different sexes within the species. In particular, the frenulum under their wings and the tip of their abdomen can help in distinguishing between male and female adults. Males also have spatula-like folds of their genitalia, which are absent in females. Also, females are generally smaller than males.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these common wasp facts and Mayfly facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Luna moth coloring pages.
Thank you to Kidadler Daniel Davila for providing the image of the One-eyed Sphinx Moth in this article.
*Please note that the main image is of a banded sphinx moth, not a one-eyed sphinx moth. If you have any image of a one-eyed sphinx moth, please let us know at [email protected]
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Smerinthus-cerisyi
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=One-Eyed-Sphinx-Moth
https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IILEX0F050
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At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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