Rustic sphinx
Manduca rustica (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Abdomen has 3 pairs of yellow spots. Forewing is yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white scales and zigzagged black and white lines.
Wing Span: 3 7/16 - 5 15/16 inches (8.7 - 15 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding late at night, around 10 P.M.
Flight: . Several broods from May-October in Louisiana, two broods from July-November in the rest of the range.
Caterpillar Hosts: Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) and jasmine (Jasminum species) in the olive family (Oleaceae), bushy matgrass (Lippia alba) in the vervain family (Verbenaceae), knockaway (Ehretia anacua) in the borage family (Boraginaceae), and Bignonia species in the Bignoniaceae.
Adult Food: Nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum) and petunia (Petunia species).
Habitat: Warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical forests and second growth.
Range: Virginia to south Florida, west to Arkansas, Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. South through Central America to Uruguay. Strays to Maine, Massachusetts, and New York.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 546 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2026
Submitted by: RobertMichaelSlater
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2026
Observation date: Jul 22, 2026
Submitted by: dygsell23
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jul 24, 2026
Observation date: Jul 22, 2026
Submitted by: dygsell23
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2026
Observation date: Jul 16, 2026
Submitted by: Skywalking82
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 17, 2026
Observation date: Jul 10, 2026
Submitted by: Kate S
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 11, 2026
Observation date: Jun 29, 2026
Submitted by: Carina Castro
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 29, 2026
Observation date: Jun 01, 2026
Submitted by: slysfarm
Region: Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 03, 2026
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: entrrship32
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2026
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: unfrostedflakes
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2026
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: gbrezina
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 13, 2026
Observation date: Oct 31, 2025
Submitted by: jereinert
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: Bullsnake1
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Brooks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: Abird
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 14, 2025
Submitted by: Ssiqueiros
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 14, 2025
Submitted by: Bflymom
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: Jkb221
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Run-1st
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: Diane Drobka
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: johnreeves777
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2024
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