Rustic Sphinx Moth

The Rustic Sphinx appeals to my goth side. I can't imagine why.

The Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica) moth is a rather large species in the Sphingidae family of moths. 

We're not really sure where this particular moth came from, but we did find it already inside our Flight Encounter Exhibit even though none of the staff put it there.

Most likely, it stowed away in the soil of a plant that we purchased from a nursery. 

Sphinx moths tend to make their pupal cases in small voids in the soil, making them easy to accidentally transport and difficult to find on purpose.

As a caterpillar, the larva may feed on any of the following:

• Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
• jasmine (Jasminum species) 
• olive family (Oleaceae)
• bushy matgrass (Lippia alba)
• vervain family (Verbenaceae)
• knockaway (Ehretia anacua) 
• borage family (Boraginaceae)
• Bignonia species in the Bignoniaceae.

Check out my cryptic camouflage. In the wild you can walk right past and never see me.

Moth Vocabulary:

This species of moth is nocturnal and can generally be found beginning to feed around 10pm. However, not all moths may be found flying around in the middle of the night. Here's some moth vocabulary 

• Some species of sphinx moths are often found flying in the twilight of both dusk and dawn, making those species Crepuscular moths.
• If a species is active only before dawn, it is considered matutinal. 
• Species active only after sunset are known as vespertine.
• Species active during the day are considered Diurnal. 

Yep, that's my hand that the moth is resting upon. They are pretty sizable.