Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773
Cocytius duponchel
This record describes Cocytius duponchel (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
Geographic Range
Throughout the New World tropics, from Brazil through the Caribbean to Mexico. In our area, rarely seen in Florida and southern Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in the tropics
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Pond Apple, Annona glabra , and other species of Annona
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Probably named for Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cocytius duponchel. 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 Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ethan Kistler; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773
Where is Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773 found?
Range: Throughout the New World tropics, from Brazil through the Caribbean to Mexico. In our area, rarely seen in Florida and southern Texas.
What does Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773 eat?
The diet of the Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773 includes Larvae feed on Pond Apple, Annona glabra , and other species of Annona.
When is Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773 active?
Duponchel's Sphinx - Hodges#7773: seasonal activity - Year-round in the tropics.