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 217 - 240 of 554 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 02, 2013
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2013
Observation date: Sep 29, 2013
Submitted by: BigPinkMoth
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 29, 2013
Observation date: Sep 15, 2013
Submitted by: KmfKaf12
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 27, 2013
Observation date: Sep 11, 2013
Submitted by: Stuart Marcus
Region: Texas, Liberty County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 16, 2013
Observation date: Aug 28, 2013
Submitted by: redchaser
Region: Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 30, 2013
Observation date: Dec 04, 2011
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Aug 22, 2013
Observation date: Aug 13, 2013
Submitted by: bargecr90
Region: Gregg County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2013
Observation date: Aug 13, 2013
Submitted by: BirdLover77
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2013
Observation date: Aug 05, 2013
Submitted by: Shaq1ab
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 06, 2013
Observation date: Jul 04, 2013
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 05, 2013
Observation date: Jul 02, 2013
Submitted by: insect girl
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2013
Observation date: Sep 21, 2012
Submitted by: Dhardin
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Don Tangren
Verified date: Jul 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: ryanmcdonnell
Region: New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 30, 2013
Observation date: May 15, 1974
Submitted by: jccooley
Region: Rowan County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 25, 2013
Observation date: Sep 29, 2006
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2013
Observation date: Sep 28, 2010
Submitted by: tjantscher
Region: Linn County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Jan 14, 2013
Observation date: Oct 09, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Childs
Region: Chester County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Nov 29, 2012
Observation date: Oct 24, 2012
Submitted by: mystikalkat
Region: Texas, Kaufman County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 25, 2012
Observation date: Nov 03, 2012
Submitted by: kui
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: James F. Snyder
Verified date: Nov 18, 2012
Observation date: Aug 13, 2012
Submitted by: MeanusGeneus
Region: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 17, 2012
Observation date: May 04, 2011
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2012
Observation date: Sep 24, 2003
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 2012
Submitted by: Lawst
Region: St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2012
Observation date: Oct 24, 2012
Submitted by: Jared Harmon
Region: Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Nov 05, 2012
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