This striking mammoth sized moth is a member of the sphinx family.
Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar poisonous.
Fringe tree chionanthus virginicus and jasmine jasminum species in the olive family oleaceae bushy matgrass lippia alba in the vervain family verbenaceae knockaway ehretia anacua in the borage family boraginaceae and bignonia species in the bignoniaceae.
Sphinx moths use a wide range of larval host plants including both woody and nonwoody species.
Manduca rustica the rustic sphinx is a moth in the sphingidae family figures 1 and 2.
It gets its name because it raises its body from the front just like the sphinx in egypt.
Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar.
Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar has a horn shaped sting on end but it is just for the show.
The rich black and white speckled coloration of the rustic sphinx moth is contained by sharp short white dashes on the edges of its hind wings.
Your insect is the rustic sphinx moth caterpillar they are common across the u s.
The insect has black and white markings in zig zag patterns.
Hairy legs add to its charm.
Each moth species has its own suite of suitable host plants for example some eat only members of the tobacco tomato potato family.
Generally stinging caterpillars mainly the puss caterpillar also known as the southern flannel moth or the asp are rare north of the mason dixon line says david wagner an entomologist.
We believe this is a rustic sphinx caterpillar manduca rustica.
Sphinx moths are medium to large in size with thick bodies and wingspans of 5 inches or more.
They will eat a few leaves but there usually aren.
Others must eat the leaves of rose family trees such as plum cherry and apple.
We disagree with your identification.
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.
The mottled coloration if looked at closely reveals a zigzag pattern crossing the body from left to.
Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar the rustic sphinx caterpillar has a large horn and white strips on its green body generally found in states such as texas florida south carolina and mississippi the rustic sphinx caterpillar manduca rustica is a green horned species.
The top of the forewing is a dark olive brown with lighter brown on the margin with a narrow tan band along the wingtip to the base and white streaks on the veins.
