Manduca occulta
{{Short description|Species of moth}}
{{italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Occult sphinx
| image = Manduca occulta MHNT CUT 2010 452, Cartago Tapanti Costa Rica, male dorsal.jpg
| image_caption = Manduca occulta ♂
| image2 = Manduca occulta MHNT CUT 2010 452, Cartago Tapanti Costa Rica, male ventral.jpg
| image2_caption = Manduca occulta ♂ △
| taxon = Manduca occulta
| authority = (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903){{Cite web |title=CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae |url=http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Manduca/occulta.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728001428/http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Manduca/occulta.html |archive-date=2012-07-28 |access-date=2011-11-01 |publisher=Cate-sphingidae.org}}{{PD-notice}}
| synonyms =
- Protoparce occulta Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
- Protoparce occulta pacifica Mooser, 1940
}}
Manduca occulta, the occult sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.
Distribution
The species was first described by Rothschild & Karl Jordan in 1903. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/mocculta.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511222124/http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/mocculta.htm|archivedate=2013-05-11|url-status=dead |title=Silkmoths |publisher=Silkmoths.bizland.com |date=2010-07-21 |accessdate=2011-11-01}}
Description
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.
Manduca occulta MHNT CUT 2010 452, Cartago Tapanti Costa Rica, female dorsal.jpg|Female Dorsal side
Manduca occulta MHNT CUT 2010 452, Cartago Tapanti Costa Rica, female ventral.jpg|Female △ Ventral side
Biology
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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051109064606/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/1078.htm Occult Sphinx] Moths of North America
{{Taxonbar|from=Q147998}}
Category:Moths described in 1903
Category:Taxa named by Karl Jordan
Category:Taxa named by Walter Rothschild
Category:Moths of Central America
Category:Lepidoptera of Mexico
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