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 357 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: mcmiller413
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2018
Submitted by: kittypro
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: ODixon
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 29, 2018
Submitted by: techster10
Region: Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 02, 2018
Observation date: Sep 29, 2018
Submitted by: Jillrk
Region: Virginia, United States, York County
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 02, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: Lwaters17
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: Wrldtrvlr2
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: Nancy Weiss
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2018
Submitted by: zehfoto
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: laurensenften
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2018
Submitted by: Vtreadway
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2018
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2018
Submitted by: Rebecca Barnes
Region: Polk County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 29, 2018
Submitted by: lazycj
Region: Texas, United States, Wise County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 30, 2018
Observation date: Jul 23, 2018
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 24, 2018
Submitted by: rstwilburn
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2018
Submitted by: Ceegeesea
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 26, 2018
Observation date: Jun 22, 2018
Submitted by: dlbdata
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: haczech
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 18, 2018
Observation date: Sep 20, 2016
Submitted by: Infinitysasha
Region: Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 11, 2018
Observation date: Oct 24, 2017
Submitted by: Tweetie555
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: May 25, 2018
Observation date: May 23, 2018
Submitted by: TonySerra
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2018
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