Giant Sphinx Moth

This large sphinx moth (Cocytius antaeus) has an extremely long proboscis (tongue) – here seen fully extended as it would be if the moth were sipping nectar from the bottom of a very long-tubed flower. Important pollinators, some sphinx moths have very specific relationships with the plants they pollinate. The giant sphinx, for example, is the only known pollinator of the rare and delicate ghost orchid of Florida’s swamps.