Cocytius antaeus, the giant sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773. It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of California, [2] Texas, and Florida in the United States.

Identification: Females are much larger than males. Forewing is a blurry yellowish gray. Hindwing is dark gray with yellow at the base and a dark "tooth" projecting from the margin into the translucent area between each vein. Wing Span: 5 - 7 inches (12.6 - 17.8 cm). Life History: Females lay eggs singly on leaves of various species of Annona.

Giant Sphinx Moth (Cocytius antaeus) The giant sphinx moth is a member of the family of hawk moths. British entomologist Dru Drury first described this species in 1773.

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May 23, 2009 · Probably named after Antaeus- Greek Antaios (Ανταιος)- a giant in Greek mythology. 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.

Adults of this species are one of the few pollinators of Ghost Orchids, and have an impressively long proboscis. Larvae feed on Pond Apple (Annona glabra) in Florida, but other Annonaceae, such as Custard Apple (Annona reticulata) in California, may be suitable hosts as well.

Sep 3, 2023 · Cocytius antaeus, one of the largest sphinx moth species, has a wingspan of up to 150 mm. The size of these moths is determined by various factors, including the species and environmental conditions. For instance, the Sphinx vashti is a much smaller moth, with a forewing length of 32-37 mm.

The Giant Sphinx, Cocytius antaeus, is the largest sphinx moth in North America, with a wingspan of 5-7 inches. It is a Neotropical moth, favoring tropical and subtropical lowlands. A resident in tropical America from Mexico south to Brazil, it is also found in Jamaica, Florida and, occasionally, southern Texas.

The genus Cocytius has 2 species in the USA, and 6 around the world. This is a New-World genus, found only in the Americas. Type specimen: Sphinx (Cocytius) antaeus - Drury, 1773 Synonyms: Amphonyx General Information: These are large moths, most have brown mottled forewings with various markings. Some of the species have clear paneling on the ...

References: Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced. Hodges, R. W., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21:p. 24; pl. 1.4. order or free PDF; Species Page at Bill Oehlke's moth website - Cocytius antaeus; Species Page at BugGuide.Net