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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 513 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 11, 2023
Submitted by: Amy Birchfield
Region: Texas, Smith County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
Observation date: Sep 27, 2018
Submitted by: Bamaturtle
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: ElizabethHill
Region: Kent County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: Spreuninger95
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2021
Submitted by: danielfoxnm
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Dean Urbanski
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2021
Submitted by: Jkh5321
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Ranger Karen
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: Gregg Rankin
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: RoxannWigen
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2022
Submitted by: Aelkins
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: Jegregso
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: gmac2023
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: Blueauragirl7
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: Extremedriver
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: antoniarocks
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: Blueauragirl7
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2023
Submitted by: HiMoz
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: rockjock
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: Figure It Out
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Jlrspaar
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: minda
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: TeraD819
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
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