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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Agrius cingulatus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 552 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: Jsicotte
Region: Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2021
Submitted by: Adrian Mills
Region: Autauga County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2021
Submitted by: Nicholetteyusta...
Region: Johnson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 26, 2015
Submitted by: djanssen1228
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: jwsafranek
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: Marlizen
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: Garronteed
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: Kbossong
Region: Gallia County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Dec 23, 2020
Observation date: Oct 26, 2015
Submitted by: Rojas11
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
Observation date: Oct 25, 2020
Submitted by: sarajoy71
Region: Harrison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2020
Observation date: Oct 09, 2014
Submitted by: LindaRoe
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 19, 2020
Observation date: Oct 15, 2020
Submitted by: Woesbaby@gmail.com
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 16, 2020
Observation date: Oct 07, 2020
Submitted by: SurfahSistah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Oct 05, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 20, 2020
Observation date: Oct 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mirandahowe
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Oct 01, 2018
Submitted by: Chasmoto
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 08, 2020
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