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 430 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 24, 2018
Submitted by: stevefister
Region: New London County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2018
Submitted by: Leeanna Gilley
Region: Coffee County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Aug 28, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Nov 03, 2020
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 27, 2020
Submitted by: Bmartinez
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2020
Submitted by: Kayla-Sunnie
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 04, 2020
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 01, 2020
Observation date: Sep 27, 2020
Submitted by: Joanna Griffith
Region: Jackson County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Pambow
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 26, 2020
Observation date: Sep 20, 2020
Submitted by: thoscole
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 24, 2020
Observation date: Sep 17, 2020
Submitted by: Kathy Byrum
Region: Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Sep 10, 2020
Submitted by: hkalonick
Region: Cullman County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: bhasty2010
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 29, 2020
Submitted by: Bluelu
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: mcontatore
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: mcadamsjoy
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: Okienap54
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: Okienap54
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: torinobrien
Region: Orange County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: AngieW
Region: Muscogee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: Jbanks
Region: Cullman County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 12, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Aug 11, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: cjn2491
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 06, 2020
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