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Manduca quinquemaculatus
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Bombycoidea >> Sphingidae >> Sphinginae - Sphingini >> Manduca

Manduca sexta

(Linnaeus, 1763)
Carolina Sphinx

Sort #: 1726 | P #: 890090 | MPG #: 7775 | PFG Page #: 256
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Larval feeding type: Feeds externally on leaves
Larval substrate: Many plants in the nightshade family, incl. Solanum lycopersicum* (Tomato), Solanum melongena* (Eggplant), Solanum dulcamara* (Climbing Nightshade), Solanum tuberosum (Potato), Nicotiana* (Tobacco), Capsicum annuum* (Pepper), Physalis peruviana* (Colombia Goldenberry), Datura stramonium* (Jimsonweed)
Phenology: Adult: 5/25 to 10/17 (134 records)

Status in MA (automated assessment): Widespread, very common
Status in N. America: Native
MA Endangered Species Act status: None
First Year Reported: 1833
Last Year Reported: 2025

Distribution by County: Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket
Number of Records: 520

  • Larva feeding on Tomato (Photo: ©Tom Murray)
  • Larva feeding on Eggplant (Photo: ©Tom Murray)

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