DISTRIBUTION:

Manduca clarki (wingspan: 102-109mm; forewing length: 45-50mm) flies in
Brazil (specimen type locality): Amazonas: Fonte Boa;
possibly Colombia ?;
Ecuador: Morona-Santiago; and
Peru: Iquitos. It is also recorded from
Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Sarah, 450m.

Similar to Manduca scutata, Manduca pellenia and, most closely, to Manduca lucetius, from which it differs in being smaller, and the pale parts of the upperside of the thorax and wings grey, without a yellowish buff tint. Forewing shape similar to that of Manduca lucetius, less elongate than in Manduca scutata. Antenna slightly thinner than in Manduca lucetius, much thinner than in Manduca scutata and Manduca pellenia. Head with frons nearly as black as occiput. Abdomen upperside with white dorsal spots vestigial or diffuse; 7th segment without yellow lateral patch. Palpus with 1st segment with white ventral margin. Abdomen underside white, suffused with brown-black scales, especially laterally, except for 1st segment, which is pure white; dark mesial spots fewer than in the similar species.Legs as black as the sides of the abdomen, suffused with white scales. Fore- and hindwing pattern almost identical to those of Manduca lucetius, except that the marginal grey band of the hindwing less shaded with black, but more so than in Manduca scutata or Manduca pellenia. Forewing underside with 2 faint dark transverse lines, outlined with grey distally, curved as much as in Manduca lucetius, more so than in Manduca scutata or Manduca pellenia. CATE

Manduca clarki, 106mm, courtesy of Jean Haxaire.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Manduca clarki adults fly as at least two generations annually with moths on the wing from just after midnight until 2:20 am in December-January and also in July. It is rare in Peru. In Bolivia it has been taken in November.

Manduca clarki, 102mm, courtesy of Jean Haxaire.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

Manduca clarki, 103mm, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador,
courtesy of Jean Haxaire.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults take nectar from flowers.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larva have been reported on ??

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Sphingidae Index
Return to Sphingini Tribe