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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 541 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 05, 2017
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2016
Submitted by: djayschmitt
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2017
Observation date: Sep 14, 2017
Submitted by: Virginia Sheffield
Region: Calhoun County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Oct 23, 2017
Observation date: Oct 19, 2017
Submitted by: rmh111
Region: Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Oct 21, 2017
Observation date: Oct 15, 2017
Submitted by: lozanor1821
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
Observation date: Sep 16, 2017
Submitted by: ktew
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 13, 2017
Observation date: Sep 27, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: LesleyP26
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2017
Observation date: Oct 07, 2017
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 08, 2017
Observation date: Jul 07, 2016
Submitted by: Bob jackson
Region: Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: jdzadik
Verified date: Sep 30, 2017
Observation date: Sep 15, 2017
Submitted by: johnmiller
Region: Bradley County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Sep 27, 2017
Observation date: Sep 24, 2017
Submitted by: Aadffhjkl
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 24, 2017
Observation date: Sep 09, 2017
Submitted by: joemdo
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 10, 2017
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: CaptainTrips
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: lrancourt
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Aug 29, 2017
Submitted by: curiousladybug
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 29, 2017
Observation date: Aug 29, 2017
Submitted by: Jean McLane
Region: Guadalupe County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 29, 2017
Observation date: Jun 02, 2017
Submitted by: klgraves
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 03, 2017
Submitted by: sasha164
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: hunter58
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2015
Submitted by: Hughesfamily2012
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Jun 16, 2017
Observation date: Apr 06, 2017
Submitted by: Nancee Cobb
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 06, 2017
Observation date: Dec 18, 2016
Submitted by: lambski
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 19, 2016
Observation date: Nov 26, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 27, 2016
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