Kingdom Animalia Family Sphingidae Scientific name Manduca muscosa Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Manduca Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Similar Manduca occulta, Manduca florestan, Manduca, Manduca ochus, Manduca corallina | ||
Manduca muscosa, the muscosa sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.
Contents
Distribution
It is found from southern and western Arizona in tropical and subtropical lowlands and premontane forests and oak woodland, then south through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Descritpion
The wingspan is 100–126 mm. It is similar to Manduca sesquiplex but the forewing is much less elongate, the ground colour of the body and wings is darker, almost olive and the pale bands on the hindwing are less prominent.
Biology
There is one generation per year with adults on wing from mid-July to early August in southern Arizona. In Costa Rica, adults are on wing from May to November.
The larvae feed on Verbesina gigantea, Lasianthaea fruticosa, Eupatorium albicaule, Viguiera dentate, Eupatorium albicaule, Lantana camara, Helianthus annuus and Jacaranda caroba.