Giant sphinx

Description

Cocytius antaeus, the giant sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773. It is found from Brazil through Central America and into the southern parts of California, Texas, and Florida in the United States. 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. The larvae feed on Annona glabra, Annona reticulata, Annona purpurea, Annona holosericea and Rollinia membranacea. Cocytius is a genus of hawkmoths (family Sphingidae). The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819.