Giant Sphinx Moth Caterpillar: Genus Cocytius

bugman

February 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 am

Categories

Hornworms

Name this green giant please…
Hi there bugman,
I almost had a heart attack when I saw this caterpillar on my young sweetsop/anon/sweet apple tree. I live in Miami Florida. I tried identifying it, is not a tomato hornworm nor a luna moth…It measures about four inches long, it only has the little red dots on the sides and the white line that ends in a horn, on its posterior end it has a grouping of red dots. It’s the only one I have seen in my garden and curiosity kills me. Please help me identify it, and thank you for this wonderful website and the work you do.
Manuela

Hi Manuela,
You were close with the Tomato Hornworm. This is another Sphinx Moth Caterpillar, typically called Hornworms. It is in the genus Cocytius. It is either Duponchel’s Sphinx, Cocytius duponchel, or more likely, Cocytius antaeus, which has no common name. Both caterpillars feed on Sour Sop or Custard apple, Annona glabra, and other related plants. The caterpillar of Cocytius antaeus is a closer visual match.

Hi Daniel,
I appreciate you writing me back. curiosity kept me searching until I found it on one of those University websites that have their “bug” study area. I agree that it matches more with the Giant Sphinx- Cocytius antaeus. The color and markings were exact. I had let it stay on my 2 1/2 foot tree overnight and when I saw my little tree in the morning…it had to go! I value more my sweetsop tree than a giant moth. It is not an endangered specie, the blue jays wouldn’t touch it nor the other birds, so the ants are having a go at it. Thanks again for your help.
Manuela

Hi Manuela
We did a bit more research after receiving your response, and according to a Wikipedia article on the Giant Sphinx: “Its wingspan can measure up to 17cm, and is very rare in North America. It is the only insect in North America with a long enough proboscis to pollinate the also rare Ghost Orchid .” The Ghost Orchid was popularized in Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief that subsequently led to the film Adaptation.