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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 295 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 05, 2017
Submitted by: lynndiwagon
Region: Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: pxa138
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2017
Observation date: May 31, 2017
Submitted by: Sbenn387
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 21, 2009
Submitted by: Paul Ribitzki
Region: Pawnee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 01, 2016
Submitted by: Amylea
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 01, 2016
Observation date: Sep 28, 2016
Submitted by: Abigood
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 01, 2016
Observation date: Sep 25, 2016
Submitted by: sksuvak
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2016
Observation date: Sep 10, 2016
Submitted by: leonebrown
Region: Clarke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 24, 2016
Observation date: Sep 17, 2016
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2016
Observation date: Aug 16, 2016
Submitted by: Yellowwood
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 19, 2016
Observation date: Sep 17, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2016
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 15, 2016
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: selaineh
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 14, 2016
Observation date: Sep 09, 2016
Submitted by: joshuaprobulis
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 09, 2016
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: zjschwenke
Region: Washington County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 08, 2016
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: rnmacek
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 08, 2016
Observation date: Sep 08, 2016
Submitted by: Aprilrains32
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 08, 2016
Observation date: Jun 04, 2016
Submitted by: Peter Homann
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 19, 2016
Observation date: Aug 04, 2016
Submitted by: treedancer
Region: Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2016
Observation date: Jul 31, 2014
Submitted by: GCSnelling
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2016
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: gnleo
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2016
Observation date: Nov 14, 2015
Submitted by: jdonahue
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jan 07, 2016
Observation date: Dec 07, 2015
Submitted by: emilyanncr
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 14, 2015
Observation date: Nov 02, 2015
Submitted by: D. Dodd
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 29, 2015
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