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From Massachusetts, New York and so. Ontario west to Minnesota and Colorado, to the southern borders of the U.S.
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Seasonality and Size:
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Adults may be found throughout the year in Florida, and from May to October to northward. Glaser records the species in Maryland from May 24 to September 17. Wingspan 10.5 - 12 cm.
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Larva and Host Plants:
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The larva, known as the tobacco hornworm, is green or brown. It has seven diagonal white lines on each side, and a red "horn" at the end of the abdomen. It feeds on plants in the nightshade family, and may be a pest on tomato and tobacco. Adults may nectar at flowers such as moonflower, morning glory, honeysuckle and petunia.
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Field Marks:
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usually six pairs of yellow spots on the abdomen
irregular wavy subterminal line on the forewing
narrow white marks on the forewing and hindwing fringes
hindwing with two zigzag black median lines that are fused together with very little white between them
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Similar Species :
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The Five-spotted Hawk Moth, M. quinquemaculata, may be distinguished from M. sexta by the following:
usually five pairs of yellow abdominal spots
lower half of subterminal line nearly straight
forewing and hindwing fringes grey
zigzag median lines on hindwing sharper and separated by more white
Another similar species, Manduca occulta, is found in so. Arizona and rarely in so. Florida. In this moth, the light areas in the fringe of the forewing are grey rather than white and about as broad as the dark areas.
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7775 -- Carolina Sphinx Moth -- Manduca sexta
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[parasites] - © 
10.5cm - ©