Manduca occulta

Occult sphinx
	Manduca occulta, adult
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Manduca
Species:	M. occulta
Binomial name
	Manduca occulta; (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903)
Synonyms
	Protoparce occulta Rothschild & Jordan, 1903; Protoparce occulta pacifica Mooser, 1940;

Manduca occulta (occult sphinx) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found from Panama north through Central America (including Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica) and Mexico to southern Arizona and on occasion southern Florida.^[2]

The wingspan is 105–120 mm. It is similar to Manduca diffissa tropicalis and can be distinguished only by a study of the genitalia. There are brownish black bands on the hindwing underside.

There is one generation per year in Costa Rica with adults on wing from May to June. In Nicaragua, adults have been recorded from July to August and in October. Strays in Florida have been recorded in September. They feed on the nectar of various flowers.

The larvae feed on Cestrum glanduliferum, Cestrum racemosum, Solanum accrescens and Solanum hazenii.

References

^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2011-11-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

Occult Sphinx Moths of North America Guide

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[1] "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.^{[permanent dead link]}

[2] "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2011-11-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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