Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845
Callionima falcifera
This record describes Callionima falcifera (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It seems that a reliable characteristic is examining the apical area of the forewing. In Callionima falcifera, it seems that the area directly between the apical line and outer margin is the same color as the ground color of the wing, and not lighter. In Callionima parce, the area between the apical line and outer margin is lighter. (CATE) The wings are also generally more falcate.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Dilophonotini
- Genus
- Callionima
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Central/South America; records from Florida, Arizona
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Callionima falcifera (Gehlen, 1943) is listed as a stray by St Laurent (in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023) with Callionima parce of authors ; (not Fabricius, 1775) as a synonym and true parce treated as extralimital north of Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Callionima falcifera. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845
What is Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845?
Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845 (Callionima falcifera) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845?
It seems that a reliable characteristic is examining the apical area of the forewing. In Callionima falcifera, it seems that the area directly between the apical line and outer margin is the same color as the ground color of the wing, and not lighter. In Callionima parce, the area between the apical line and outer margin is lighter. (CATE) The wings are also generally more falcate.
Where is Callionima falcifera - Hodges#7845 found?
Range: Central/South America; records from Florida, Arizona