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 49 - 72 of 523 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: azblue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2022
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 22, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: anita stratton
Region: Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: Olive C
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 29, 2022
Observation date: Nov 18, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: Debrapiazza
Region: Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Cosgroveseven
Region: Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 29, 2022
Submitted by: Godey1861
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: Logan Miederhoff
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Aug 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: Dixie Rebel Chic
Region: Mobile County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 1996
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: Freckles75
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
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
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