Pink-spotted hawkmoth
Agrius cingulata (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Body is robust. Abdomen tapers to a point and is grayish brown with pink bands. Forewing is mottled gray and brown; hindwing is gray with black bands and pink at the base.
Wing Span: 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 inches (9.5 - 12 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars are large and stout and have a horn at the end of the abdomen. They feed both day and night. Caterpillars pupate in chambers dug in the ground. Adults are very strong fliers.
Flight: . One flight from June-October in most of the range, several flights throughout the year in Florida and Louisiana.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), jimsonweed (Datura), and related plants.
Adult Food: Nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), and petunia (Petunia species).
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands, open areas.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to the southeastern United States, Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California; strays northward in the summer to British Columbia, Colorado, Michigan, and Maine.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: The caterpillars can be pests on sweet potatoes in the southern states.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Agrius cingulatus
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 541 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 31, 2021
Submitted by: avrilsue
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Aaalvizo
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Aaalvizo
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Kabergdahl
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: Nov 03, 2016
Submitted by: Kfritz3
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2015
Submitted by: Peggy808
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 1994
Submitted by: Allen B
Region:
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 18, 2022
Observation date: Dec 23, 2018
Submitted by: ABM 6
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 01, 2018
Submitted by: Paige3Wilson
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: Kona1234
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 03, 2014
Submitted by: kimakazeee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Dec 23, 2014
Submitted by: sabrinacrd
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jan 03, 2013
Submitted by: Siberria
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jan 16, 2022
Submitted by: McleanFam
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: Mattb
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 05, 2021
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: joemill45
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 07, 2021
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: 1joseph979
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bluelu
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bluelu
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: Jsicotte
Region: Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2021
Submitted by: Adrian Mills
Region: Autauga County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2021
Submitted by: Nicholetteyusta...
Region: Johnson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 26, 2015
Submitted by: djanssen1228
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: jwsafranek
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 23
- next ›