Cocytius antaeus, the giant sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Giant sphinx | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sphingidae |
Genus: | Cocytius |
Species: | C. antaeus
|
Binomial name | |
Cocytius antaeus | |
Synonyms | |
|
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.