Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848
Aellopos clavipes
This record describes Aellopos clavipes (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Dilophonotini
- Genus
- Aellopos
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
sw US (s CA, s AZ, c to s TX), W. Indies - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
fly Jun-Nov in TX (MPG)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From Latin clava- "club" + pes- "foot"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aellopos clavipes. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Abigail Parker; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848
How big is Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848?
Wingspan: 50 - 64 mm
Where is Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848 found?
Range: sw US (s CA, s AZ, c to s TX), W. Indies - Map (MPG)
When is Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848 active?
Clavipes Sphinx - Hodges#7848: seasonal activity - fly Jun-Nov in TX (MPG).