Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Agrius Members:	64 NC Records

Agrius cingulata (Fabricius, 1775) - Pink-spotted Hawk Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Sphinginae

Tribe:
Sphingini

P3 Number:
890086

MONA Number:
7771.00

Other Common Name:
Pink-spotted Hawkmoth

Comments: One of five worldwide species, the only one in North America.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate that there is just a single species of Agrius in our area.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: Adults are unmistakable as the only sphingid species in our area with pink spots on the abdomen. Sexes similar.

Wingspan: 9.5 - 12 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Larvae are highly variable but usually can be distinguished by two pairs of vertical stripes on the head and black spots on the dorsal surface of the thorax; most also have seven pale oblique stripes (Forbes, 1948). Pupation occurs in the soil.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Essentially a tropical species that migrates to North Carolina every year and probably breeds here and is eliminated most winters.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Adults are taken as early as May but most common late in the season.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Found predominantly in open agricultural areas anywhere in the state.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on the underside of Ipomoea leaves - often on morning glories but occasionally also a pest on Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) (Forbes, 1948; Wagner, 2005). Mejia et al. (2020) also list Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), potato, tobacco, Common Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Bindweed (Convolvulus), and cocklebur (Xanthium). There is an iNaturalist record of a larva feeding on Sweet Potato in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Adults readily come to strong lights, such as mercury-vapor lamps, but only in small numbers to 15 watt UV lights. They can also be captured as they nectar on flowers after dusk, but are not attracted to bait. Usually collected as singletons until September and October when adults become quite common, particularly at strong light sources.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Fields, Gardens, and Ruderal Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S3S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

Comments: This is probably mainly a migratory species in our area and is found primarily in disturbed areas rather than natural habitats. Consequently, it is not a conservation concern in this state.

Photo Gallery for Agrius cingulata - Pink-spotted Hawk Moth

40 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-04-27 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ann Chapoton-Genna on 2024-08-14 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-29 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-29 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-12 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-09 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2022-10-15 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2022-10-15 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-09-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-09-28 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-04 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-01 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-10-19 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2021-10-12 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-10-02 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-01 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-22 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-09-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-09-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-07 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-08-03 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2017-11-16 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2017-09-20 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2017-09-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-10-16 Cabarrus Co. Comment: