Schauss's Sphinx
Common NameSchauss's Sphinx
Scientific NameManduca schausi
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilySphinginae
Wingspan (mm)100
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, brown, yellow, black
HabitatTropical and subtropical forests, woodlands
Geographic RangeMexico, Central America, and northern South America (e.g., Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil)
Host PlantsSolanum spp.
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, with peaks during warmer, wetter months
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae are typically large, green or brown with a caudal horn, feeding on host plants before pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its large size, robust body, and the intricate, wavy, cryptic pattern on its forewings, which includes distinct yellowish-gold and dark brown bands.
Description
A large, robust hawk-moth with forewings displaying a complex, cryptic pattern of wavy dark brown, yellowish-gold, and pale gray bands, and a stout, banded abdomen.
