Orange-barred Sulphur vs Rustic Sphinx Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Orange-barred Sulphur Rustic Sphinx Moth
Scientific Name Phoebis philea Manduca rustica
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pieridae Sphingidae
Size Wingspan 67-80mm 90-140 mm
Habitat Underground Gardens
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions North America, South America Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Orange-barred Sulphur

A large bright yellow butterfly with orange bar markings on the upper forewings. Females are more muted with reddish markings.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol large territories and engage in spiraling aerial battles with rivals that can last several minutes.

Rustic Sphinx Moth

A striking hawk moth with dark brown forewings marked with white patches and a banded abdomen. It is a strong flier found across the Americas and is attracted to garden flowers at dusk.

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Did You Know?

The rustic sphinx is one of the largest hawk moths in North America and can sometimes be seen hovering at flowers alongside hummingbirds.