Giant sphinx
Cocytius antaeus (Drury, 1773)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
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. Caterpillars are large and have a horn at the rear end.
Flight: . Several broods throughout the year in south Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Custard apple (Annona glabra).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands.
Range: Resident in Florida and tropical America south to Brazil and Peru, rare in South Texas, strays as far north as Chicago.
Conservation: Population status and habitat requirements should be studied in Florida.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 33 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/cocytius_antaeus_maki.jpg?itok=yeUe-q-l)
Observation date: Nov 17, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/screenshot_2023-03-05_2.50.47_pm.png?itok=TA8DFsT5)
Observation date: Mar 05, 2023
Submitted by: BriannaMerkelson
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/unidentified_sphinx_moth_1.jpg?itok=CxiuA2yg)
Observation date: Feb 10, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: St. Lucia
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2017_03_jean_and_carlos_at_carla_and_tims_cocytius_antaeus.jpg?itok=D0MMZdlX)
Observation date: Mar 03, 2017
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0201_2_2.jpg?itok=JGsVh4PI)
Observation date: Oct 27, 2018
Submitted by: jimmeejam
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0480_1_0.jpg?itok=wGpc9MAM)
Observation date: Feb 11, 2019
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 27, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/a207c381-6518-4c9a-abc0-efd8a9085b72.jpeg?itok=Q-OOVSEp)
Observation date: Jan 07, 2022
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/thumbnail_20220104_160900.jpg?itok=kXqimLm1)
Observation date: Jan 04, 2022
Submitted by: Slim93d
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/large_108.jpeg?itok=cug1XmaQ)
Observation date: Feb 14, 2020
Submitted by: amdurso
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 15, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/img_20171013_211421430-01.jpeg?itok=8NV_zAGa)
Observation date: Oct 13, 2017
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 15, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn3610.jpg?itok=pRAWOQoO)
Observation date: May 11, 2014
Submitted by: Seb
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 11, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/waved_sphinx_of_unusual_size.jpg?itok=Obm1uwWo)
Observation date: Apr 05, 2012
Submitted by: kellymain
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 09, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1710_56.jpg?itok=lggRJJlE)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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Observation date: Feb 23, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jean McCollom)
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Apr 01, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 12, 1997
Submitted by: kellyrichers (Kelly M. Richers)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Florence County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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