Cocytius antaeus

Giant sphinx
Cocytius antaeus, adult
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Cocytius
Species: C. antaeus
Binomial name
Cocytius antaeus
(Drury, 1773)[1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx antaeus Drury, 1773
  • Sphinx annonae Shaw, 1802
  • Sphinx hydaspus Cramer, 1777
  • Sphinx iatrophae Fabricius, 1775
  • Sphinx medor Stoll, 1782
  • Amphonyx tapayusa Moore, 1883
  • Cocytius henrici Pinchon, 1969

The Giant Sphinx (Cocytius antaeus) is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of Texas and Florida in the United States.

The wingspan is 126–178 mm. Very rare in North America, it is the only insect in the continent with a long enough proboscis to pollinate the similarly rare Ghost Orchid.

The larvae feed on Annona glabra, Annona reticulata, Annona purpurea, Annona holosericea and Rollinia membranacea.[2]

References

  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  2. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2011-11-01.

External links


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