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 73 - 96 of 523 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Oct 26, 2017
Submitted by: BRITTLYNN
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2018
Submitted by: slarson
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Glassgirl12
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Nana11
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
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
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