Manduca stuarti (Taxonomy)
Transferred to Manduca by d'Abrera, [1987], Sphingidae Mundi: 28.
Distinct in pattern and structure from Manduca species.Discocellular veins of hindwing straight, or m1-m2 faintly curved, not or slightly oblique; m1-m2 at right angles to vein Rs, with the lower angle of the discal cell obtuse; M1 quite long stalked with RS. Frons grey, almost lavender colour contrasting strongly with the yellowish cream palpi, which are deep black at the dorsal margin; the 2nd palpal segment slender, with scaling a little shorter than on the 1st.Eyes comparatively smaller than in Manduca sexta. Foretarsus with very long, strong spines; 1st segment shorter than tibia, with 3 long and 4 shorter, basal, spines, with no small spines externally; segments 2-4 each with a single, long apical spine externally.Mid- and hindtarsi short, with their 1st and 2nd segments as long as their respective tibiae.No pulvillus.Abdomen underside with no lateral, yellow patch on segment 2, but intensely coloured patches present on the more distal segments; spines at edges of tergites weak; no spines on the sternites. Antenna unusual, with the basal segment without rows of long ciliae, the middle and distal segments less impressed and less triangularly compressed than in other Manduca; hook short. Antenna less slender than "allied species", less setiform, being thickest beyond midway, with no combs of ciliae. Uncus gradually tapered to apex, but faintly dilated subapically, pointed.Gnathos with lobe long, nearly parallel sided, apex rounded, with an indication of a sinus, upperside slightly concave.Valve broadly rounded apically, the dorsal margin weakly curved inwards.Harpe short, triangular, the dorsal margin not distinctly dentate.Aedeagus with tooth long, slightly pointing distad, though less so than in Manduca muscosa. Abdomen with plate of 7th sternite broad, truncate, angles rounded.Ante-ostial lobe short, triangular, the apex rounded, no prominent transverse ridge proximally at its base.