Giant sphinx | |
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Cocytius antaeus, adult | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sphingidae |
Genus: | Cocytius |
Species: | C. antaeus |
Binomial name | |
Cocytius antaeus (Drury, 1773) |
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Synonyms | |
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Cocytius antaeus (giant sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of Texas and Florida in the United States.
The wingspan is 126–178 mm. Very rare in North America, it is the only insect in the continent with a long enough proboscis to pollinate the similarly rare ghost orchid.
The larvae feed on Annona glabra, Annona reticulata, Annona purpurea, Annona holosericea and Rollinia membranacea.