# Rustic Sphinx

*Manduca rustica*

Its proboscis extends several centimeters, allowing it to feed on deep tubular flowers while hovering mid-air without landing on the petals.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Sphingidae › Manduca
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Deciduous forests, open woodlands, suburban gardens, and agricultural edges.
- **Diet:** Larvae feed on foliage of ash, fringe tree, catalpa, and beautyberry; adults drink nectar from night-blooming flowers like petunias, jasmine, and morning glories.
- **Range:** North America, Central America, South America, Caribbean
- **Size:** Wingspan 8.7–15 cm
- **Lifespan:** 10–30 days as adult
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Artificial light pollution disrupting nocturnal navigation, broad-spectrum pesticide spraying, and habitat conversion.
- **Safe to approach?:** The rustic sphinx is completely harmless to humans. Neither the adult moth nor the hornworm caterpillar can bite or sting, though caterpillars may thrash defensively if handled. It can be safely observed at close range. If exposed to defensive regurgitation from a caterpillar, simply wash the affected skin with soap and water.

## About

Manduca rustica ( rustic sphinx ) is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/fd00eea0-2034-4c77-86cd-a3e8b97b038c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/126568
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manduca_rustica
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/10301269/medium.gif (Evan M. Raskin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.