Rustic Sphinx Moth Caterpillar Food

The moths in this family are called hawkmoths and the caterpillars are often referred to as hornworms due to the horn shaped protuberance found on their posterior end wagner 2010.

Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar food.

The large strong flying moth is beautiful with streamlined wings mottled black cream and rusty brown. It gets its name because it raises its body from the front just like the sphinx in egypt. Manduca rustica is native to the southeastern united states. Closely related to the tomato hornworm manduca quinquemaculata the rustic sphinx manduca rustica is less common and generally found in the southern united states.

Hairy legs add to its charm. Each moth species has its own suite of suitable host plants for example some eat only members of the tobacco tomato potato family. This striking mammoth sized moth is a member of the sphinx family. The insect has black and white markings in zig zag patterns.

Adult moths have a pattern of blacks whites and browns across their bodies that helps them blend into the bark of trees as a form of camouflage. Manduca rustica the rustic sphinx is a moth in the sphingidae family figures 1 and 2. The caterpillars of rustic sphinx moth feed on various ornamentals including gardenia sunflower lantana and ligustrum. The sphingidae are a family of moths lepidoptera commonly known as hawk moths sphinx moths and hornworms.

Sphinx moths are medium to large in size with thick bodies and wingspans of 5 inches or more. We depend on donations to keep butterflies and moths of north america online and freely available. The mottled coloration if looked at closely reveals a zigzag pattern crossing the body from left to. A caterpillar of the rustic sphinx moth manduca rustica fabricius feeding on olive.

Buss university of florida. We need your help. It is best represented in the tropics but species are found in every region. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar.

If everyone who uses this resource gives a small amount we could cover our ongoing costs develop new features and upgrade the system. They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their agile and sustained flying ability similar enough to that of hummingbirds as to be reliably. A parasitized hornworm caterpillar of the rustic sphinx moth manduca rustica fabricius with cotesia congregata cocoons emerging larva red arrow and adult wasp. Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar has a horn shaped sting on end but it is just for the show.

The top of the forewing is a dark olive brown with lighter brown on the margin with a narrow tan band along the wingtip to the base and white streaks on the veins. Sphinx moths use a wide range of larval host plants including both woody and nonwoody species.