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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 438 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 09, 2018
Submitted by: Cherbear
Region: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 05, 2019
Observation date: Oct 10, 2018
Submitted by: Sue Gregoire
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jan 16, 2019
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: JMAC16
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 18, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Derise
Region: Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: gcant02
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 28, 2018
Submitted by: Chili66
Region: Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 31, 2018
Observation date: Oct 03, 2018
Submitted by: pmrules21
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2018
Observation date: Oct 26, 2018
Submitted by: Lpsloverlol
Region: Texas, Palo Pinto County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2018
Observation date: Sep 10, 2018
Submitted by: I Fox
Region: Coffey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2018
Observation date: Oct 17, 2018
Submitted by: Casper
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 18, 2018
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: NOFOmoths
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2018
Observation date: Oct 09, 2018
Submitted by: HSVGardenGirl
Region: Saline County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2018
Observation date: Oct 04, 2018
Submitted by: janethom7
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: Madiluvsu5
Region: Sumner County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 16, 2016
Submitted by: aesc
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: May 16, 2018
Submitted by: Tripledubya
Region: Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2018
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: brownthrasher33
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 12, 2018
Observation date: Oct 05, 2017
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2016
Submitted by: djayschmitt
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2017
Observation date: Sep 14, 2017
Submitted by: Virginia Sheffield
Region: Calhoun County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Oct 23, 2017
Observation date: Oct 19, 2017
Submitted by: rmh111
Region: Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Oct 21, 2017
Observation date: Oct 15, 2017
Submitted by: lozanor1821
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
Observation date: Sep 16, 2017
Submitted by: ktew
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 13, 2017
Observation date: Sep 27, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
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