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 370 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: cgideon17
Region: Texas, Parker County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: zuluman
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Beast_Lord
Region: Cotton County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: Doctor _Y
Region: Madison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: JenniferJowdy
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: Cagonz15
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2019
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: bloonmonkey
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: graska
Region: Brazoria County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 23, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: Bbkelley74
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 13, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: robertnhahn
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 13, 2019
Observation date: May 09, 2019
Submitted by: MissyJuntunen
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 01, 2018
Submitted by: lindsay rodriguez
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
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
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