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A large (6.2-9.0 cm wingspan) heavy-bodied sphinx moth. Forewings are pale grey (occasionally tan) with a rather complex pattern of darker grey and black banding. The median and terminal areas in particular are dark. Outer margin of the forewing is scalloped, with a "tooth" at the anal angle. The hindwings are bright rose-pink, shading into tan toward the margin. There is a large black spot in the anal angle containing a bright blue circle, often incomplete and sometimes with a second blue crescent above. Thorax is black, contrasting sharply with the broad pale grey tegulae. The very similar S. jamaicensis has two blue bars instead of a blue circle in the hindwing spot, and the pink is sharply divided from the tan outer part of the hindwing. Pectinations on the male antennae are also much shorter in cerisyi than in jamaicensis.