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| Photo by Susan K Roberts |
This Pink-Spotted Hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata) showed up inside the BioWorks Butterfly Garden, so we think it may have hitched a ride as a pupa nestled down in the soil of our last order of new plants.
The caterpillars of this species feed on sweet potato (Ipomoea) and jimsonweed (Datura). The caterpillars are commonly known as Sweet Potato Hornworms and can be considered a pest of sweet potato crops in the south.
Adults feed on the large flowers with deep throats such as petunia, moon flower and morning glory. The adult moths can be observed feeding both by day and by night.
This moth is quite large, with a wingspan up to 4.75 inches is width. Pink Spotted Hawkmoths have a big body and are very strong fliers.
The specific epithet cingulata derives from the Latin word cingulum (belt or zone) which is often used to denote belted or banded coloring. In the picture below you can see the brilliant pink bands and spots that helped to provide a common name for this species.
The caterpillars of this species feed on sweet potato (Ipomoea) and jimsonweed (Datura). The caterpillars are commonly known as Sweet Potato Hornworms and can be considered a pest of sweet potato crops in the south.
Adults feed on the large flowers with deep throats such as petunia, moon flower and morning glory. The adult moths can be observed feeding both by day and by night.
This moth is quite large, with a wingspan up to 4.75 inches is width. Pink Spotted Hawkmoths have a big body and are very strong fliers.
What's in a Name?
The genus Agrius is named for one of a pair of half-human, half-bear Thrakian giants found in Greek mythology.The specific epithet cingulata derives from the Latin word cingulum (belt or zone) which is often used to denote belted or banded coloring. In the picture below you can see the brilliant pink bands and spots that helped to provide a common name for this species.
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