Giant Grey Hawk Moth vs Eye Gnat

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Grey Hawk Moth Eye Gnat
Scientific Name Agrius cingulata Liohippelates pusio
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Sphingidae Chloropidae
Size 95-130 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Americas (from southern United States to Argentina), occasional migrant to Europe and Africa Southern United States, Central America, Caribbean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Grey Hawk Moth

A massive hawk moth with gray-streaked forewings and a pink and black banded abdomen. It is one of the largest and fastest-flying sphinx moths in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Agrius cingulata is such a powerful flier that individuals from the Americas occasionally cross the Atlantic Ocean and turn up in western Europe.

Eye Gnat

A tiny, shiny black fly attracted to eye and wound secretions of humans and animals. It is a suspected mechanical vector of bacterial conjunctivitis and yaws in tropical regions. Its persistent swarming around the face makes it an extremely annoying pest in agricultural areas.

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Did You Know?

These flies are so strongly attracted to eye secretions that they will persistently return to a person's face even after being brushed away dozens of times.