![white lion sphinx moth white lion sphinx moth](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/c1/29/bd/c129bd4a77599030e6db28421c2249d4--moth-tattoo-dressing.jpg)
Pupal chambers are formed just under the soil surface and have a convex, arched top and a flat bottom. The pupae have a maxillary loop that is diagnostic for the genus ( Figure 6). Pupae: Manduca rustica larvae burrow into the soil and form pupation chambers after the final larval instar.
![white lion sphinx moth white lion sphinx moth](https://www.sphingidae.us/uploads/1/1/0/6/110632027/darapsa-myron-joanne-russo_1_orig.jpg)
![white lion sphinx moth white lion sphinx moth](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/bamona_images/white_lined_sphinx_2_1.jpg)
At the final instar, caterpillars will make their way to the ground by either crawling down the host plant or dropping to the soil to pupate (Genise et al. The larvae feed on the host plant, growing and molting into subsequent instars. This sphinx position is named for the caterpillar’s resemblance to the ancient Egyptian limestone statue called the Great Sphinx that depicts a mythical creature with the face of a human and body of a lion ( Figure 5). This position is characterized by the posterior portion of the caterpillar flat against the substrate and the head and anterior portion curving upwards (Genise et al. Larvae feed among the leaves and branches of the host plant, and can often be found in what is known as a sphinx position. A late instar caterpillar, known as a hornworm, of the rustic sphinx moth, Manduca rustica (Fabricius), showing a characteristic color change that occurs prior to pupation. A caterpillar, known as a hornworm, of the rustic sphinx moth, Manduca rustica (Fabricius). This color change is most likely for camouflage, as the final instar caterpillar begins its passage to pupate in the soil.įigure 3.
![white lion sphinx moth white lion sphinx moth](https://c8.alamy.com/zooms/9/2462e16956454192b51b8bc9696182f8/2gjexme.jpg)
This color and pattern is maintained throughout all larval instars, until the final instar when the dorsal surface becomes a light reddish-brown (Genise et al. This horn has granulations that can help distinguish the rustic sphinx from other hornworm species that have a smooth horn. The posterior end bears a small protuberance or horn typical of hornworms. The body is bright green with yellow diagonal stripes bordered with a darker green to purple-black ( Figures 3 and 4). Larvae: Manduca rustica caterpillars closely resemble the more commonly encountered caterpillars of the closely related tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Individuals also have been found as far north as Maine (Heppner 2003). Native to the southeastern United States, Manduca rustica can be found from southern Florida, north to Virginia and west to Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California, as well as south through Central America to South America, as far south as Argentina. These caterpillars are capable of defoliating their host plants and have been known to consume or damage developing fruit. The most notable hornworm pests in this genus are the tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata, and the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Buss, University of Florida.Īs well as being important for pollination, some sphingid species are economically important pests of major crops and ornamental plants. Adult rustic sphinx moth, Manduca rustica (Fabricius). It can be easy to mistake these moths for hummingbirds due to their flower visitation, relatively large body size, and fast, agile flying behavior.įigure 1. Hawkmoths are nocturnal visitors of a wide variety of night-blooming flowers, pollinating these flowers while feeding with their long proboscises. 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). Manduca rustica, the rustic sphinx, is a moth in the Sphingidae family ( Figures 1 and 2). Scientific name: Manduca rustica (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Introduction - Distribution - Life Cycle and Biology - Hosts - Natural Enemies - Selected References Introduction (Back to Top)