Giant sphinx

Cocytius antaeus

''Cocytius antaeus'', the giant sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Cocytius antaeus  Cocytius antaeus,Giant sphinx,sphingidae

Appearance

The wingspan is 126–178 mm. Very rare in North America, it was once thought to be the only insect in the continent with a long enough proboscis to pollinate the similarly rare ghost orchid.

Distribution

It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of California, Texas, and Florida in the United States.

Behavior

The larvae feed on ''Annona glabra'', ''Annona reticulata'', ''Annona purpurea'', ''Annona holosericea'' and ''Rollinia membranacea''.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilySphingidae
GenusCocytius
SpeciesC. antaeus
Photographed in
Brazil