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 396 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 09, 2019
Submitted by: Garrettlh4
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2019
Submitted by: safetyo
Region: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Nov 26, 2019
Observation date: Nov 19, 2019
Submitted by: InsectaFinda
Region: Burleson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2019
Observation date: Oct 28, 2019
Submitted by: chungwei3wei
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 25, 2018
Submitted by: dolores.gladtid...
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2019
Observation date: Oct 05, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2019
Observation date: Oct 03, 2019
Submitted by: shwedman
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 05, 2019
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: Sashayshay
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 21, 2019
Observation date: Sep 14, 2019
Submitted by: ZooBru
Region: Washington County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: Srider
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: SanPortales
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: Taylor Fields
Region: Stafford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 14, 2019
Submitted by: maryelenawest
Region: Copiah County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: skidplate
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Ashirva
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2018
Submitted by: nesig
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: genecot
Region: Baylor County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 02, 2019
Submitted by: Rachelfernald
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 09, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: rachel.robinson...
Region: Gadsden County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 09, 2019
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: techster10
Region: Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 07, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: jmelnyk3
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 06, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: LindyBindy
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2019
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