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Digital Guide to Moth Identification



  7776 -- Five-spotted Hawkmoth -- Manduca quinquemaculata
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Distribution:

Found occasionally in southern Canada from Nova Scotia to Ontario, and in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Also throughout the United States, but uncommon in the Great Plains and the Southeast.

Seasonality and Size:

One principal generation over most of the east, with mature caterpillars from July to November: Adults fly year-round in the Deep South, and from May to October to the northward. In Maryland, Glaser reports them from 30 May to 21 October. Wingspan 9.0 - 13.5 cm

Larva and Host Plants:

The larvae, known as tomato hornworms, are green or brown with eight white chevrons on each side and a black "horn" at the end of the abdomen. The host plants are tomato, tobacco, potato and other members of the nightshade family.

Field Marks:
  • usually five pairs of abdominal spots
  • lower half of subterminal line nearly straight
  • forewing and hindwing fringes gray
  • two sharp zigzag median lines on hindwing separated by white background

    • Similar Species : The Carolina Sphinx Moth, M. sexta, is distinguished from M. quinquemaculata by the following characteristics:

  • 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 zigzag black median lines fused together with very little white between them

    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.
    • Your Photo? © Janice Stiefel © Bob Nuelle, Jr. Your Photo? 10.5cm - © Jim Vargo
    Your Photo? green form - © Janice Stiefel
          		Photo? black form - © BryanReynolds
          		Your Photo? pupa - © Janice Stiefel
     
    References
    USA Distribution Map at BMNA

    Covell Field Guide p.32; Pl. 3(4, female)

    MONA Fascicle 21, p.31; Pl. 1(6, male)

    Handfield's Papillons du Québec p.268; Pl. 50(7776, female).

    Wagner's Caterpillars of Eastern North America p.249

    Bill Oehlke's Species Page


    Data compiled by Nolie Schneider from references noted. See the Books Page for bibliographic and ordering information.





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    Files/Live/Species/7000/7776.shtml -- 07/08/2005