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Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 (Cocytius antaeus)
Photo#1467067
Copyright © 2017
daroberts
Very Large Sphynx moth in Goleta, California -
Cocytius antaeus
Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
November 10, 2017
Size: 10 inch wing span
This is the largest sphynx moth I have ever seen. It was the size of a moderately sized bat.
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Contributed by
daroberts
on 13 November, 2017 - 4:07pm
Last updated 23 July, 2018 - 1:11pm
Moved
Moved from
Duponchel's Sphinx
.
…
Teá Montagna
, 23 July, 2018 - 1:11pm
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Moved
Moved from
Cocytius
.
…
Teá Montagna
, 23 July, 2018 - 12:25pm
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Moved
Moved from
Giant Sphinx
.
…
Teá Montagna
, 23 July, 2018 - 12:22pm
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Moved in Error
I was mixing up the field marks, this is indeed antaeus.
…
Teá Montagna
, 23 July, 2018 - 12:20pm
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Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
Bob Biagi
, 13 November, 2017 - 6:22pm
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Looks like Giant Sphinx Moth
Cocytius antaeus
If so, very rare for California.
I could be wrong.
Info and images
here
.
…
cwmelton
, 13 November, 2017 - 5:16pm
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Cocytius antaeus
I think you may be correct. The photograph does not show it, but it had three orange dots on each side of the abdomen. I looked up a reference in Wikipedia and the wing span looks good, although on the upper end (probably around 200 mm if you account for distortion in the image.
In over 50 years in Southern California, observing many sphinx moths, this is the first time I have seen anything like this. Given the general northward migration of many organisms, I figure it is an invader.
…
daroberts
, 14 November, 2017 - 1:47pm
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Yes
The white dot-dash discal spots are consistent with this species and not found on any other species. Your image is now placed in the guide. WELCOME TO BUGGUIDE!!!!!!
…
Bob Biagi
, 14 November, 2017 - 2:10pm
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