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 328 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 05, 2017
Submitted by: BioSquint
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 19, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: htomrevol
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 19, 2017
Observation date: Oct 18, 2017
Submitted by: Spick
Region: Texas, Parker County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 18, 2017
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Elmore County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 27, 2017
Submitted by: Irish Lady
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 07, 2017
Observation date: Sep 28, 2017
Submitted by: Sunnycharacter
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 28, 2017
Observation date: Sep 21, 2017
Submitted by: boogiebear78
Region: Gregg County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 21, 2017
Observation date: Sep 12, 2017
Submitted by: H Hooper
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: jeffmci9
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2017
Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: Grlnxtdore
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2017
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: David Jones
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Sep 01, 2017
Submitted by: Christinah
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 01, 2017
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: moongypsysc
Region: Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2017
Submitted by: talozo
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: May 22, 2017
Submitted by: joslund
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Jun 13, 2017
Submitted by: malvarez
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 11, 2017
Submitted by: Gloria Guthrie
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 22, 2017
Submitted by: jupitervega
Region: Colbert County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 22, 2017
Submitted by: Jean Fontaine
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 22, 2017
Observation date: Aug 21, 2017
Submitted by: hlunsford
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 21, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: ulao
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 20, 2017
Observation date: Aug 18, 2017
Submitted by: jupitervega
Region: Pontotoc County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: Mary Poole
Region: Hinds County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 17, 2017
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: Stott Noble
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 13, 2017
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