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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Sphinginae » Sphingini » Cocytius » Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 (Cocytius antaeus)

Species Cocytius antaeus - Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772

Classification · Hodges Number · Pronunciation · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Internet References
Giant Sphinx Moth - Cocytius antaeus Giant Sphinx Moth - Cocytius antaeus Mystery Sphingidae found in backyard. - Cocytius antaeus Manduca sexta (?) Jan. 2019 in San Diego - Cocytius antaeus Manduca sexta (?) Jan. 2019 in San Diego - Cocytius antaeus Very large moth on sidewalk - Cocytius antaeus Giant Sphinx (Cocytius antaeus) - Cocytius antaeus Large Unidentified Moth in Southern California - Cocytius antaeus
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
Subfamily Sphinginae
Tribe Sphingini
Genus Cocytius
Species antaeus (Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772)
Hodges Number
7772
Pronunciation
sfinks AN-tee-us
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Originally described in 1773 by Dru Drury as Sphinx antaeus
Explanation of Names
Probably named after Antaeus- Greek Antaios (Ανταιος)- a giant in Greek mythology.
Range
In our area resident mostly in Florida, rare in southern Texas, with adults straying from Mexico into southern Arizona and California, and very rarely turning up as far away as Chicago. Found throughout the tropical parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Habitat
Tropical lowlands
Season
Year-round in the tropics
Food
Larvae feed on Annona glabra, the Custard Apple, and have been reported on other species of Annona in the tropics
Internet References
Illustrations of Natural History By Dru Drury (Plate 25, fig.1) Original description of the species (The illustration described is a few pages back, and the scientific name is given in an index at the end of the book) Google Books
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Markku Savela's Funet species account
Moths of Southeastern Arizona- Sphingidae (Hawkmoths)
Contributed by Alan Chin Lee on 16 March, 2008 - 3:14pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz
Last updated 23 May, 2009 - 6:33pm

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