Manduca diffissa subsp. petuniae
Synonymized with Sphinx cestri [sic] by Burmeister, 1878, Descr. physique R├®publique Argentine5 (L├®pid.) (1): 321, then with Phlegethontius diffissa by Kirby, 1892, Synonymic Cat. Lepid. Heterocera1: 689. Reinstated as a subspecies of Protoparce diffissa by Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, Novit. zool.9 (suppl.): 75, who incorrectly treated petuniae as the senior name for this species. This error was corrected by Rothschild, 1919, Novit. Zool.26: 196.
Antenna shorter and more slender than in Manduca sexta.Abdomen upperside without paired white dorsal dots. Foretarsus with armature similar to that of Manduca afflicta; no pulvillus. Forewing upperside with ground colour variable, with paler and darker individuals, but generally more russet than in Manduca diffissa tropicalis; discal and postdiscal lines sharply angled near vein M3, much less smoothly curved than in Manduca sexta; the black and buffish white spots of the fringe nearly equal in size. Uncus pointed, not sinuate.Gnathos obtusely pointed, lateral margins curved upwards, obliquely truncate distally.Valve elongate sole-shaped, distal part of dorsal margin dilated and curved inwards.Harpe with an acute, quite long, conical, ventral process, the dentate lobe individually variable, dorsally truncate, the distal angle acute or rounded, denticulation often vestigial.Aedeagus with a single apical tooth, which is almost horizontal, pointing weakly distad. Abdomen with 7th sternite obviously sinuate at apex.Abdomen with 8th tergite truncate, with the angles rounded, with a mesial triangular impression.Ante-ostial lobe broad, transverse, the apical angle slightly rounded, the angles strongly rounded, the structure of the surface variable; oblique ridges low, widely separate proximally.