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Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak?si=N8IWGb32QaDWogm7" rel="nofollow">https://youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak?si=N8IWGb32QaDWogm7</a><br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html" title="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata?"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/171618_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=5ptcwXgfVsPijMDKhnVxC5BJRD0%3D" width="200" height="152" alt="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States,caterpillar,larva,paonias,sphingidae,sphinx moth" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html" title="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata?"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/171617_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=2ycYwFoZMR9F6jMq14FIs5K75Lg%3D" width="122" height="152" alt="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html" title="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata?"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/171616_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=risNTLAK%2B01gnTrs7HvKE3oCm%2Fg%3D" width="124" height="152" alt="Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> https://youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak?si=N8IWGb32QaDWogm7<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States" /></a></figure><br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States Click/tap to enlarge

Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata?

I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.

Habitat: Deciduous forest
https://youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak?si=N8IWGb32QaDWogm7

Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States,caterpillar,larva,paonias,sphingidae,sphinx moth

Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> <br /> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States

Sphinx Caterpillar - Paonias sp., maybe Paonias excaecata? I watched this caterpillar meander through the leaf litter (probably getting ready to pupate in the soil) for close to 30 minutes, which to me is an eternity. But, it was actually really fun to watch it tackle obstacles and shake off midges that kept landing on it. The highlight was when it climbed a thin piece of grass-like vegetation that was around 7 cm tall, only to get to the top and have the grass flop over on the ground. I have no idea what the caterpillar was thinking, but I can relate to its lack of common sense.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Deciduous forest<br /> https://youtube.com/shorts/rDi8IMR6Kak?si=N8IWGb32QaDWogm7<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171618/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171617/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/171616/sphinx_caterpillar_-_paonias_sp._maybe_paonias_excaecata.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States

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By Christine Young

Attribution Non-Commercial
Uploaded Sep 30, 2025. Captured Sep 28, 2025 09:19 in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,995 9,650 8
  • Canon EOS 90D
  • f/4.0
  • 1/166s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm
Captured in the fall. More fall photos.