Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844
Callionima parce
This record describes Callionima parce (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orangish-brown with paler patches along costa, along inner margin, and at apex; median area with large silvery discal spot having an irregular outline; hindwing reddish-orange with blackish patch at outer margin near anal angle 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) Some sources describe Callionima parce as browner and with less falcate wings than C. falcifera (which is described as redder and with more falcate wings). Other sources claim that the two species cannot be distinguished without examining genitalia. Below are some links to photos in addition to the ones listed under Internet References. images labeled C. parce : 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 images labeled C. falcifera : 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5
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
Habitat
woodlands in Venezuela, C. parce flies only before midnight, and C. falcifera flies only after midnight
Geographic Range
Brazil north through Central America and Mexico to southern Florida, Texas, and Arizona (the distribution map here shows a record in California but the species is not on the California Moths List at U. of California) C. parce is the only Callionima species on the Lepidoptera of Florida Checklist
Seasonal Activity
adults fly all year in the tropics; individual migrants occasionally stray north to United States April-September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae are thought to feed on plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CAUTION: Callionima parce of authors ; (not Fabricius, 1775) is listed as synonym of Callionima falcifera (Gehlen, 1943) by St Laurent (in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023) with true parce treated as extralimital north of Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Callionima parce. 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 Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844
What is Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844?
Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844 (Callionima parce) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844?
wingspan 67-80 mm
How do you identify Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844?
Adult: forewing orangish-brown with paler patches along costa, along inner margin, and at apex; median area with large silvery discal spot having an irregular outline; hindwing reddish-orange with blackish patch at outer margin near anal angle 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)
Where is Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | woodlands in Venezuela, C. parce flies only before midnight, and C. falcifera flies only after midnight |
| Range | Brazil north through Central America and Mexico to southern Florida, Texas, and Arizona (the distribution map here shows a record in California but the species is not on the California Moths List at U. of California) C. parce is the only Callionima species on the Lepidoptera of Florida Checklist |
What does Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844 eat?
The diet of the Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844 includes larvae are thought to feed on plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).
When is Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844 active?
Parce Sphinx - Hodges#7844: seasonal activity - adults fly all year in the tropics; individual migrants occasionally stray north to United States April-September.