Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772
Cocytius antaeus
This record describes Cocytius antaeus (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Tribe
- Sphingini
- Genus
- Cocytius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Tropical lowlands
Geographic Range
In our area resident mostly in Florida, rare in southern Texas, with adults straying from Mexico into southern Arizona and California, and very rarely turning up as far away as Chicago. Found throughout the tropical parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in the tropics
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Annona glabra , the Custard Apple, and have been reported on other species of Annona in the tropics
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Probably named after Antaeus- Greek Antaios (Ανταιος)- a giant in Greek mythology.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cocytius antaeus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Alan Chin Lee; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772
Where is Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Tropical lowlands |
| Range | In our area resident mostly in Florida, rare in southern Texas, with adults straying from Mexico into southern Arizona and California, and very rarely turning up as far away as Chicago. Found throughout the tropical parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean. |
What does Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 eat?
The diet of the Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 includes Larvae feed on Annona glabra , the Custard Apple, and have been reported on other species of Annona in the tropics.
When is Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772 active?
Giant Sphinx - Hodges#7772: seasonal activity - Year-round in the tropics.