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

Large dark brown/black moth in south Florida... - Cocytius antaeus

MothGiantSphinx_Cocytius_antaeus11192015_MS_ - Cocytius antaeus

Mystery Sphingidae found in backyard. - Cocytius antaeus

Very Large Sphynx moth in Goleta, California - Cocytius antaeus

Manduca sexta (?) Jan. 2019 in San Diego - Cocytius antaeus

Very Large Caterpillar - Cocytius antaeus

Very large moth on sidewalk - 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

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version