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Rustic sphinx facts for kids

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Rustic sphinx
Manduca rustica 2.jpg
Conservation status

Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Sphinx rustica Fabricius, 1775
  • Sphinx chionanthi J. E. Smith, 1797
  • Protoparce nigrita Clark, 1926
  • Protoparce postscripta Clark, 1926
  • Protoparce rustica auriflua Gehlen, 1930
  • Phlegethontius rustica harterti Rothschild, 1894
  • Protoparce rustica calapagensis Holland, 1889
  • Phlegethontius rustica cortesi Cary, 1963
  • Protoparce rustica cubana Wood, 1915
  • Protoparce rustica dominicana Gehlen, 1928

The rustic sphinx (scientific name: Manduca rustica) is a type of moth. It belongs to the Sphingidae family, which are often called sphinx moths or hawk-moths. A scientist named Johan Christian Fabricius first described this species in 1775.

Where the Rustic Sphinx Lives

You can find the rustic sphinx moth in the southern parts of the United States. Sometimes, it even flies up into the northern United States. From there, it lives southward through Mexico, Central America, and all the way down to Uruguay in South America.

What the Rustic Sphinx Looks Like

Life and Habitat

The young rustic sphinx moths, called larvae or caterpillars, eat leaves from different plants. They especially like Jasminum and Bignonia plants. They also feed on plants from families like Verbenaceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae, and Boraginaceae.

This moth is very common and can live in many different places. You can find it in rainforests, deserts, and even in cities or areas where people have changed the land. It can survive by eating many kinds of plants, both native and those brought from other places.

Different Types of Rustic Sphinx Moths

Within the rustic sphinx species, there are a few different types, called subspecies. These subspecies often live in specific areas:

  • Manduca rustica cortesi is found in Mexico.
  • Manduca rustica cubana lives in Cuba and Jamaica.
  • Manduca rustica calapagensis is found on the Galápagos Islands.
  • Manduca rustica harterti lives in the Lesser Antilles, which include islands like Bonaire and St. Lucia.
  • The main type, Manduca rustica rustica, is found across the Americas.

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See also

A robot friend! In Spanish: Manduca rustica para niños

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