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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 462 verified sightings
Observation date: May 10, 2022
Submitted by: anniemae5
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: Deb Peterson
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2020
Submitted by: Pseudio3
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2015
Submitted by: Jennypace04
Region: Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: debster
Region: Burke County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2016
Submitted by: Elaine Peterson
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Ndemetrick1
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2021
Submitted by: MottLeeCrew
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: reyes.carmiii
Verified date: Oct 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 28, 2021
Submitted by: Jan McHaig
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: Colleen
Region: Texas, Llano County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 09, 2021
Submitted by: Tanya Grossman
Region: Grayson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2021
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Kemal
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: Ericaard
Region: Henderson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: vmwagner
Region: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: smsmith14
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: Shoeshoe
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: Stephanie Kotkin
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2015
Submitted by: Lburg
Region: Northumberland County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: caterpillar_rave
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 26, 2017
Submitted by: Durtyman88
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 17, 2017
Submitted by: Brian Olsen
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
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