Cocytius antaeus
Giant sphinx | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sphingidae |
Genus: | Cocytius |
Species: | C. antaeus |
Binomial name | |
Cocytius antaeus | |
Synonyms | |
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Cocytius antaeus, the giant sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Distribution
[edit]It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of California,[2] Texas, and Florida in the United States.
Description
[edit]The wingspan is 126–178 mm. Very rare in North America, it was once thought to be the only insect in the continent with a long enough proboscis to pollinate the ghost orchid.
- Male dorsal
- Male ventral
- Female dorsal
- Female ventral
Biology
[edit]The larvae feed on Annona glabra, Annona reticulata, Annona purpurea, Annona holosericea and Rollinia membranacea.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ Giant Sphinx in CA
- ^ "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2011-01-31. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
External links
[edit]- Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Giant sphinx Cocytius antaeus (Drury, 1773)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved January 1, 2019.