Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
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View PDFSphingidae Members:
Agrius Members:
62 NC Records

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

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: SphinginaeTribe: SphinginiP3 Number: 890086.00 MONA Number: 7771.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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)

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