SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Cocytius antaeus

(Drury, 1773)

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Common Name(s): Giant Sphinx

Ecology and Life History:
This moth is continually brooded in Florida, and as such larvae and adults can be present virtually year-round. In Southern California, it is active from February to November. I have recorded a flight of adults in late December to early January in South Florida, undoubtedly there are additional peaks. This moth is highly attracted to light, occasionally with numbers of individuals coming to lights. Bait would likely be ineffective for this species as it feeds on the nectar of orchids. This moth is not sexually dimorphic, females are slightly larger than males on average. Eggs are likely laid on the surface of a leaf rather than on the stems of plants. Younger larvae feed on the undersides and outer edge of the leaf. Larger instars hide under leaves during the day, and feed from the outer leaf edge until the leaf is consumed. Larvae thrash violently when disturbed, and given their size, it is quite a spectacle. Adults of this species are one of the few pollinators of Ghost Orchids, and have an impressively long proboscis. 

Habitat and Searching for Larvae:
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. Larvae do not seem to feed high in the trees, though they are often over water. Final instar larvae are easy to find, as they create a distinctive feeding pattern. Larvae feed on a branch of Annona glabra from the terminal leaf inward, finishing each leaf before moving on. The larva hides underneath the uneaten leaves during the day (2). This is a moth of wet areas as that is where Pond Apple is most common. They can be found in swamps, flood plains, and other areas so long as sufficient hostplant is present. This moth is continually brooded in Florida and can be found year-round. I have recorded a peak of larval activity in mid-December in South Florida, undoubtedly there are many others. In California, there is a peak of activity between February and June, and again from September to November. This species glows incredibly well under UV flashlights. The lime-green coloration and bright white stripe makes finding this larva easy, even when located in the canopy of a tree.

Rearing Notes:
How to obtain eggs is unknown at this time. It is likely that placing a female in a paper bag or styrofoam cooler will give eggs, but they may need a flight cage. In South Florida, this moth seems to specialize on Annona glabra, but likely uses other Annonaceae elsewhere. In California, Annona reticulata is used. This moth is extremely susceptible to humidity, with larvae dying in a short time when the humidity is too high. Unfortunately, their hostplant likes to be humid when cut. As such, sleeving this moth on a potted plant or wild tree is a good way to rear them. If tupperware is used, they must be kept at a moderate humidity and have food changed daily. This species, due to its size is hard to rear in large quantity. Larvae do not like to be crowded, and too many larvae together will raise the humidity to a lethal amount quickly. Pupation can be achieved by placing the larva in loose soil, or by using the paper towel method outlined in the general information tab. If using the paper towel method, vent the container of excess humidity daily. Wild collected larvae are often victims of parasitoids, particularly Tachinidae.

Host plants:
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Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
L5 and pupa (C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
Picture
Adult description: 
As its common name implies, this is a very large moth with forewings varying from 65-92mm (2). The forewing appearance is similar to Manduca sexta, the difference being the size. The brown forewings are mottled with black, usually with a white discal spot and occasionally other whitish markings. The thorax of this moth is brown. The abdomen is brown with 3 pairs of bright yellow spots on the first three segments. The hindwings are quite distinctive. The basal area is yellow and next to it is a clear region. The bottom edge of the forewing is black.

Larval description:
L3: The larva is very rough with white speckling all over its body. The horn is pointed upward and purple in color. There is a large white streak that leads to the horn from the last abdominal segment. The head capsule is triangular and has two horn-like projections at the apex. The spiracles are dark in color, with a faint red spot in the middle.
L5:  The final instar larva is large, smooth, lime green and has a purplish horn. A distinctive white streak runs from the base of the horn through the last 3 abdominal segments of the larva. Restricted to South Florida. The spiracles are yellow with a bright red dot in the middle. The anal plate has significant black speckling.
The gallery to the left contains photos of Cocytius antaeus adults. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Cocytius antaeus larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Gina Sousa
(C) Gina Sousa
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
L5 and pupa (C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
Prepupal L5 (C) Karen McGovern
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna

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Macroglossinae

Aellopos clavipes
Aellopos fadus
Aellopos tantalus
Aellopos titan
Amphion floridensis
Cautethia grotei
Callionima falcifera
Callionima parce
Darapsa choerilus
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidemia inscriptum
Enyo lugubris
Enyo ocypete
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis guttularis
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis obscura
Eumorpha achemon
Eumorpha fasciatus
Eumorpha intermedia
Eumorpha labruscae
Eumorpha pandorus
Eumorpha satellitia
Eumorpha vitis
Eumorpha typhon
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra​
Hemaris diffinis
Hemaris gracilis
Hemaris thysbe
Hyles euphorbiae
Hyles gallii
Hyles lineata
Madoryx pseudothyreus
Pachylioides resumens
Pachylia ficus
Perigonia lusca
Phryxus caicus
Proserpinus flavofasciata
Proserpinus gaurae
Proserpinus lucidus
Pseudosphinx tetrio
Sphecodina abbottii
Xylophanes falco
Xylophanes pluto
Xylophanes libya
Xylophanes porcus
Xylophanes tersa

Smerinthinae

Protambulyx strigilis
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Pachysphinx occidentalis
Paonias astylus
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis

Sphinginae

Agrius cingulata
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia catalpae
Ceratomia hageni
Ceratomia undulosa
Cocytius antaeus
Cocytius duponchel
Dolba hyloeus
Isoparce cupressi
Lapara bombycoides
Lapara coniferarum
Lintneria istar
Lintneria separatus
Lintneria eremitus
Manduca jasminearum
Manduca occulta
Manduca brontes cubensis
Manduca florestan
Manduca muscosa
Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca rustica
Manduca sexta
Neococytius cluentius
Paratrea plebeja
Sphinx canadensis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx dollii
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx frankii
Sphinx gordius
Sphinx kalmiae
Sphinx leucophaeata
Sphinx luscitiosa
Sphinx pinastri
Sphinx poecila 
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  • Home
  • Sphingidae Index
    • Macroglossinae >
      • Aellopos >
        • Aellopos clavipes
        • Aellopos fadus
        • Aellopos tantalus
        • Aellopos titan
      • Amphion >
        • Amphion floridensis
      • Callionima >
        • Callionima falcifera
        • Callionima parce
      • Cautethia >
        • Cautethia grotei
      • Darapsa >
        • Darapsa versicolor
        • Darapsa myron
        • Darapsa choerilus
      • Deidamia >
        • Deidamia inscriptum
      • Enyo >
        • Enyo lugubris
        • Enyo ocypete
      • Erinnyis >
        • Erinnyis alope
        • Erinnyis crameri
        • Erinnyis ello
        • Erinnyis guttularis
        • Erinnyis lassauxii
        • Erinnyis oenotrus
        • Erinnyis obscura
      • Eumorpha >
        • Eumorpha pandorus
        • Eumorpha achemon
        • Eumorpha fasciatus
        • Eumorpha satellitia
        • Eumorpha labruscae
        • Eumorpha intermedia
        • Eumorpha vitis
        • Eumorpha typhon
      • Eupyrrhoglossum >
        • Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
      • Hemaris >
        • Hemaris thysbe
        • Hemaris gracilis
        • Hemaris diffinis
        • Hemaris aethra
      • Hyles >
        • Hyles gallii
        • Hyles euphorbiae
        • Hyles lineata
      • Madoryx >
        • Madoryx pseudothyreus
      • Pachylioides >
        • Pachylioides resumens
      • Pachylia >
        • Pachylia ficus
      • Phryxus >
        • Phryxus caicus
      • Perigonia >
        • Perigonia lusca
      • Proserpinus >
        • Proserpinus flavofasciata
        • Proserpinus gaurae
        • Proserpinus lucidus
        • Proserpinus terlooii
      • Pseudosphinx >
        • Pseudosphinx tetrio
      • Sphecodina >
        • Sphecodina abbottii
      • Xylophanes >
        • Xylophanes falco
        • Xylophanes libya
        • Xylophanes pluto
        • Xylophanes porcus
        • Xylophanes tersa
    • Smerinthinae >
      • Amorpha >
        • Amorpha juglandis
      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
        • Pachysphinx occidentalis
      • Paonias >
        • Paonias excaecata
        • Paonias myops
        • Paonias astylus
      • Protambulyx >
        • Protambulyx strigilis
      • Smerinthus >
        • Smerinthus jamaicensis
        • Smerinthus cerisyi
    • Sphinginae >
      • Agrius >
        • Agrius cingulata
      • Ceratomia >
        • Ceratomia amyntor
        • Ceratomia hageni
        • Ceratomia undulosa
        • Ceratomia catalpae
      • Cocytius >
        • Cocytius antaeus
        • Cocytius duponchel
      • Dolba >
        • Dolba hyloeus
      • Isoparce >
        • Isoparce cupressi
      • Lapara >
        • Lapara coniferarum
        • Lapara bombycoides
      • Lintneria >
        • Lintneria eremitus
        • Lintneria istar
        • Lintneria separatus
      • Manduca >
        • Manduca brontes cubensis
        • Manduca jasminearum
        • Manduca muscosa
        • Manduca occulta
        • Manduca florestan
        • Manduca quinquemaculatus
        • Manduca rustica
        • Manduca sexta
      • Neococytius >
        • Neococytius cluentius
      • Paratrea >
        • Paratrea plebeja
      • Sphinx >
        • Sphinx canadensis
        • Sphinx chersis
        • Sphinx dollii
        • Sphinx drupiferarum
        • Sphinx franckii
        • Sphinx gordius
        • Sphinx kalmiae
        • Sphinx leucophaeata
        • Sphinx luscitiosa
        • Sphinx poecila
        • Sphinx pinastri
  • Final Instar Larva Key
  • Hostplant Index
  • Parasitoids and Predators
  • Range
  • General Information
  • Sources and Acknowledgements
  • Other Resources
    • Sphingidae Publication Library
  • Store
  • Donations