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 265 - 288 of 554 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 18, 2012
Submitted by: basmithfwb
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2012
Observation date: Sep 17, 2012
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2012
Observation date: Sep 07, 2012
Submitted by: patrick20603
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 08, 2012
Observation date: Sep 02, 2010
Submitted by: Connor Wood
Region: Morgan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 07, 2012
Observation date: Oct 14, 2009
Submitted by: phlebo
Region: De Soto County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Sep 04, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: TIGERHD1
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 14, 2012
Observation date: Aug 28, 2011
Submitted by: pottsdls
Region: Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Aug 12, 2012
Observation date: Jul 10, 2012
Submitted by: queenofhearts_81
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 06, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: ajramirez
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: Oct 06, 2003
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Franklin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 13, 2012
Observation date: Oct 25, 2011
Submitted by: KrisMorales
Region: Liberty County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 22, 2011
Observation date: Oct 24, 2011
Submitted by: LJacobs
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 09, 2011
Observation date: Oct 01, 2011
Submitted by: bey615
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Don Tangren
Verified date: Oct 19, 2011
Observation date: Oct 13, 2011
Submitted by: mnrra
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 14, 2011
Observation date: Oct 10, 2011
Submitted by: kerber
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Oct 10, 2011
Observation date: Sep 01, 2011
Submitted by: rwilson0701
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 10, 2011
Observation date: Sep 23, 2011
Submitted by: Eddie Huber
Region: Ballard County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 27, 2011
Observation date: Aug 08, 2011
Submitted by: innola
Region: St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Sep 23, 2011
Observation date: Sep 14, 2011
Submitted by: shirlvos
Region: McCracken County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2011
Observation date: Sep 12, 2007
Submitted by: Alan Harvey
Region: Bulloch County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 26, 2011
Observation date: Aug 21, 2011
Submitted by: duke
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 22, 2011
Observation date: Oct 15, 2007
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 30, 2011
Observation date: Jul 27, 2011
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (John Wheatley)
Region: Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 30, 2011
Observation date: Sep 22, 2006
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 30, 2011
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