Neococytius cluentius
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Neococytius is a monotypic moth genus in the family Sphingidae erected by Ronald W. Hodges in 1971. Its only species, Neococytius cluentius, the Cluentius sphinx, was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1775 as Sphinx cluentius. It is found in northern South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is rare on Cuba. It has been recorded in North America, from Mississippi north to Michigan and Illinois.
The wingspan is 140–160 mm. There are at least three generations in the tropics, with adults on wing from December to January, May to June (or July in Jamaica) and October. The larvae have been recorded on Annonaceae and Piperaceae species as well as Ipomoea batatas.
Otto Porsch in 1939 discussed the potential role of the species (under the synonym Cocytius cluentius) in pollinating cacti, giving the length of its tongue as 25 cm, and noting the corresponding lengths of the flowers of night-blooming cacti. A discussion of the possible pollinators of the cactus Strophocactus wittii in 1997 used the species name Cocytius "cruentus"; however, it cited a source that uses the correct specific name cluentius.
"Cluentius sphinx (Neococytius... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serra dos Órgãos National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 3 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 4 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Neococytius cluentius sighting in Iguazú National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 269th most-seen of the 306 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Neococytius cluentius in Iguazú National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August–October and December–April, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Neococytius cluentius sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Neococytius cluentius sightings, Iguazú National Park ranks 5th at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Brazil, about 10%), Tambopata National Reserve (Peru, about 10%) and Manu National Park (Peru, about 10%).
Same family: Sphingidae
The closest relatives of the Neococytius cluentius that you can see in Iguazú National Park (family Sphingidae, Sphinx Moths) are Lesser Ficus Sphinx (about 20%), Ello Sphinx (about 10%) and Adhemarius daphne (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Neococytius cluentius is recorded against all the insects logged in Iguazú National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
