 The eyespots are not visible in resting position, where the forewings cover them.They are displayed when the moth feels threatened, and may startle a potential predator, giving the moth a chance to escape.The adult (imago) is very similar in appearance to the other two western Palaearctic "Smerinthus" species, "Smerinthus caecus" and "Smerinthus kindermannii" but differentiated by an apical thorn on the foretibia, and the large, circular hindwing ocellus.