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 387 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 14, 2019
Submitted by: ZooBru
Region: Washington County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: Srider
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: SanPortales
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: Taylor Fields
Region: Stafford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 14, 2019
Submitted by: maryelenawest
Region: Copiah County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: skidplate
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Ashirva
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2018
Submitted by: nesig
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: genecot
Region: Baylor County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 02, 2019
Submitted by: Rachelfernald
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 09, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: rachel.robinson...
Region: Gadsden County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 09, 2019
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: techster10
Region: Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 07, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: jmelnyk3
Region: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 06, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: LindyBindy
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: Calhoun
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
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
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