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 193 - 216 of 554 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 20, 2015
Submitted by: wj1563
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 20, 2015
Observation date: Oct 01, 2010
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: Hendricks County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 25, 2015
Observation date: Aug 24, 2014
Submitted by: finatic
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: finatic
Verified date: Dec 11, 2014
Observation date: Sep 28, 2014
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 28, 2014
Observation date: Sep 23, 2014
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 23, 2014
Observation date: Aug 25, 2014
Submitted by: finatic
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 22, 2014
Observation date: Oct 26, 2012
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Aug 28, 2014
Observation date: Jul 13, 2014
Submitted by: jtmangum
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 13, 2014
Observation date: Sep 03, 2009
Submitted by: Darkmoth
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 05, 2014
Observation date: Oct 12, 2013
Submitted by: flutewood
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 14, 2014
Observation date: Sep 23, 2013
Submitted by: Angie Adams
Region: Dodge County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Noel Mac Neil
Verified date: Jan 30, 2014
Observation date: Aug 30, 2013
Submitted by: erica32paulk
Region: Dale County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 13, 2014
Observation date: Sep 11, 1971
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 27, 2013
Observation date: Sep 12, 1971
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 27, 2013
Observation date: Oct 21, 2013
Submitted by: Rookey
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 29, 2013
Observation date: Oct 22, 2013
Submitted by: didi
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 25, 2013
Observation date: Oct 13, 2013
Submitted by: koolsonshine
Region: Burleson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 17, 2013
Observation date: Sep 05, 2013
Submitted by: millshw
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 16, 2013
Observation date: Oct 13, 2013
Submitted by: clemons171
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 14, 2013
Observation date: Oct 11, 2013
Submitted by: Jean Fontaine
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 11, 2013
Observation date: Oct 11, 2013
Submitted by: grantbarrett
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Oct 11, 2013
Observation date: Sep 30, 2013
Submitted by: kdkennedy913
Region: Buckingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 11, 2013
Observation date: Oct 10, 2013
Submitted by: Denise Sierra
Region: Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 10, 2013
Observation date: Sep 03, 2013
Submitted by: wrkinprgrs
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Oct 09, 2013
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