Florida Rustic Sphinx Moth

Virginia to south florida west to arkansas texas southern new mexico arizona and southern california.

Florida rustic sphinx moth.

Manduca rustica the rustic sphinx is a moth of the family sphingidae the species was first described by johan christian fabricius in 1775. The caterpillars of rustic sphinx moth feed on various ornamentals including gardenia sunflower lantana and ligustrum. The rich black and white speckled coloration of the rustic sphinx moth is contained by sharp short white dashes on the edges of its hind wings. Like other hawkmoths manduca rustica is nocturnal.

890092 00 7778 manduca rustica rustic sphinx moth fabricius 1775. Moth insects found in the state of florida. Buss university of florida. It strays northward to maine new york and quebec.

A parasitized hornworm caterpillar of the rustic sphinx moth manduca rustica fabricius with cotesia congregata cocoons emerging larva. Manduca rustica rustic sphinx fabricius 1775 manduca sexta carolina sphinx linnaeus 1763 neococytius cluentius cluentius sphinx cramer 1776. This striking mammoth sized moth is a member of the sphinx family. Manduca rustica is a southern species resident from virginia to south florida and west through arkansas and texas to new mexico southern arizona and southern california.

Deilephila elpenor elephant hawk moth linnaeus 1758 enyo lugubris mournful sphinx linnaeus 1771 erinnyis alope alope sphinx drury 1770. Strays to maine massachusetts and new york. Their darting very fast flight might. Consider contributing an image at the email address showcased at the bottom of this page.

These important evening pollinators are attracted to a wide variety of flowers where they use their long proboscis to feed on nectar. A caterpillar of the rustic sphinx moth manduca rustica fabricius feeding on olive. The parasitic wasp cotesia congregata has been noted as a natural enemy of the rustic sphinx in florida figure 8 gillett kaufman et al. South through central america to uruguay.

Manduca rustica is native to the southeastern united states. Meet the rustic sphinx manduca rustica a native moth of the southeastern united states in the sphingidae family also known as hawkmoths. The mottled coloration if looked at closely reveals a zigzag pattern crossing the body from left to.