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 241 - 264 of 554 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 03, 2012
Submitted by: southernfilly
Region: Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 23, 2012
Submitted by: amanda
Region: Carroll County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 22, 2012
Submitted by: rsilversea
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 23, 2012
Observation date: Oct 15, 2012
Submitted by: ilawork58
Region: Pueblo County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Oct 22, 2012
Observation date: Oct 18, 2012
Submitted by: JerryB
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: lorispencer
Verified date: Oct 21, 2012
Observation date: Oct 17, 2012
Submitted by: Moth observer
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 19, 2012
Observation date: Oct 10, 2012
Submitted by: IHugZombies
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 18, 2012
Observation date: Oct 08, 2012
Submitted by: Jamakaja
Region: Newport County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 15, 2012
Observation date: Oct 14, 2012
Submitted by: wtorres
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 14, 2012
Observation date: Oct 11, 2012
Submitted by: lisaclee
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2012
Observation date: Oct 06, 2011
Submitted by: minimech84
Region: Hampton, Virginia, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 11, 2012
Observation date: Oct 08, 2012
Submitted by: Rambler
Region: Talbot County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 10, 2012
Observation date: Oct 09, 2012
Submitted by: jose88
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 10, 2012
Observation date: Oct 05, 2012
Submitted by: juniper1026
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Oct 06, 2012
Observation date: Oct 05, 2012
Submitted by: drlatham
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 06, 2012
Observation date: Oct 05, 2012
Submitted by: juniper1026
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 06, 2012
Observation date: Sep 25, 2012
Submitted by: musicnoreos
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2012
Observation date: Sep 30, 2012
Submitted by: j_and_mcds
Region: Prince Georges County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 29, 2012
Submitted by: Soph
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 29, 2012
Observation date: Sep 13, 2012
Submitted by: A McR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 25, 2012
Observation date: Sep 22, 2012
Submitted by: webdiosa
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Sep 23, 2012
Observation date: Sep 22, 2012
Submitted by: Will25
Region: Nassau County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Sep 23, 2012
Observation date: Sep 19, 2012
Submitted by: jetnjammy
Region: Washington County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Don Tangren
Verified date: Sep 19, 2012
Observation date: Sep 18, 2012
Submitted by: basmithfwb
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2012
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