Giant sphinx
Cocytius antaeus (Drury, 1773)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Females are much larger than males. Forewing is a blurry yellowish gray. Hindwing is dark gray with yellow at the base and a dark "tooth" projecting from the margin into the translucent area between each vein.
Wing Span: 5 - 7 inches (12.6 - 17.8 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on leaves of various species of Annona. Caterpillars are large and have a horn at the rear end.
Flight: . Several broods throughout the year in south Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Custard apple (Annona glabra).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands.
Range: Resident in Florida and tropical America south to Brazil and Peru, rare in South Texas, strays as far north as Chicago.
Conservation: Population status and habitat requirements should be studied in Florida.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 35 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 15, 2025
Submitted by: Trexpeditions
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: klebo
Region: Hendry County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Nov 17, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: Mar 05, 2023
Submitted by: BriannaMerkelson
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
Observation date: Feb 10, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: St. Lucia
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Mar 03, 2017
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2018
Submitted by: jimmeejam
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Feb 11, 2019
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 27, 2022
Observation date: Jan 07, 2022
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Jan 04, 2022
Submitted by: Slim93d
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
Observation date: Feb 14, 2020
Submitted by: amdurso
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 15, 2020
Observation date: Oct 13, 2017
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 15, 2017
Observation date: May 11, 2014
Submitted by: Seb
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 11, 2014
Observation date: Apr 05, 2012
Submitted by: kellymain
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 09, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Feb 23, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jean McCollom)
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Apr 01, 2009
Observation date: Oct 12, 1997
Submitted by: kellyrichers (Kelly M. Richers)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Madison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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