Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1
Alcathoe autumnalis
This record describes Alcathoe autumnalis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult is a remarkably good mimic of Pompiliid spider wasps.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sesiinae
- Tribe
- Synanthedonini
- Genus
- Alcathoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Known from Texas panhandle to southmost Texas. , Type Location: San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Fall
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are Clematis sp., including western white clematis ( Clematis ligusticifolia , Ranunculaceae).
Life History
Larvae are root and stem borers.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Alcathoe autumnalis. 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 Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1
What is Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1?
Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 (Alcathoe autumnalis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1?
Wingspan: ♂ 32-36 mm, ♀ 34-38 mm.
Where is Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 found?
Range: Known from Texas panhandle to southmost Texas. , Type Location: San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas.
What does Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 eat?
The diet of the Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 includes Larval hosts are Clematis sp., including western white clematis ( Clematis ligusticifolia , Ranunculaceae)..
When is Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1 active?
Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1: seasonal activity - Fall.
What is the life cycle of a Alcathoe autumnalis - Hodges#2622.1?
Larvae are root and stem borers.