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 97 - 120 of 554 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Mar 30, 2020
Submitted by: RCirisigirl
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 30, 2020
Observation date: Oct 02, 2008
Submitted by: Jay Cossey
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 25, 2020
Observation date: Nov 15, 2019
Submitted by: YRR777
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 16, 2019
Observation date: Oct 23, 2019
Submitted by: JohnKThornvein
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 08, 2019
Observation date: Oct 18, 2019
Submitted by: bbon1379
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 08, 2019
Observation date: Oct 24, 2019
Submitted by: gibneykm
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 25, 2019
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: RagxBone
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 08, 2019
Submitted by: mysticalraven
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 25, 2019
Submitted by: Olgasfinds
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: Cbwinnjr
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: texmuerte
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 25, 2019
Submitted by: Cherbear
Region: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 25, 2019
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: plebwade
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 25, 2019
Observation date: Sep 22, 2019
Submitted by: AJNorthAL
Region: Madison County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Sep 23, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: jmtango
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: engdahlr
Region: Loudoun County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: Margie Labadie
Region: Robeson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
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
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