Bug FAQGiant Sphinx
Cocytius antaeus · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae
Also called: Giant Sphinx Moth
The giant sphinx has a wingspan between about 12.6 and 17.8 cm. It occurs from Brazil through Central America and reaches the southern United States, including parts of California, Texas and Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan ranging from 126 mm to 178 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on several Annona species such as Annona glabra, A. reticulata, A. purpurea, A. holosericea, and also on Rollinia membranacea.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range extends from Brazil through Central America and includes the southern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, Kansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where can I find a giant sphinx?
It lives from Brazil through Central America and reaches the southern United States, including parts of California, Texas and Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on several species of Annona and on Rollinia membranacea.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Sphingidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocytius_antaeus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.