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 25 - 48 of 525 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: LibertyChild72
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: Bribri803
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 05, 2023
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: EXpatsue38
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2016
Submitted by: JoanerBologna
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2015
Submitted by: Tim Norriss
Region: Camaguey, Cuba
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 08, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: dena18
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2021
Submitted by: loftcinemastaff
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: tarin123
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2022
Submitted by: futley
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: OneMarbleLess
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
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