Pink-spotted hawkmoth
Agrius cingulata (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Body is robust. Abdomen tapers to a point and is grayish brown with pink bands. Forewing is mottled gray and brown; hindwing is gray with black bands and pink at the base.
Wing Span: 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 inches (9.5 - 12 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars are large and stout and have a horn at the end of the abdomen. They feed both day and night. Caterpillars pupate in chambers dug in the ground. Adults are very strong fliers.
Flight: . One flight from June-October in most of the range, several flights throughout the year in Florida and Louisiana.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), jimsonweed (Datura), and related plants.
Adult Food: Nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), and petunia (Petunia species).
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands, open areas.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to the southeastern United States, Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California; strays northward in the summer to British Columbia, Colorado, Michigan, and Maine.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: The caterpillars can be pests on sweet potatoes in the southern states.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Agrius cingulatus
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 498 verified sightings
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: JolieElise
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 2022
Submitted by: ramona628
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: ccrosby98
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Jan 01, 2018
Submitted by: Laurlen
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 14, 2018
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 02, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2021
Submitted by: avrilsue
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Aaalvizo
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Aaalvizo
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Kabergdahl
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: Nov 03, 2016
Submitted by: Kfritz3
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2015
Submitted by: Peggy808
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 1994
Submitted by: Allen B
Region:
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 18, 2022
Observation date: Dec 23, 2018
Submitted by: ABM 6
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 01, 2018
Submitted by: Paige3Wilson
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: Kona1234
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 03, 2014
Submitted by: kimakazeee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 23, 2014
Submitted by: sabrinacrd
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jan 03, 2013
Submitted by: Siberria
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jan 16, 2022
Submitted by: McleanFam
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: Mattb
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: joemill45
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 07, 2021
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: 1joseph979
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bluelu
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bluelu
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
- 1 of 21
- next ›