Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599
Carmenta giliae
This record describes Carmenta giliae (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see Engelhardt description and figures in Print References and E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum page in Internet References.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sesiinae
- Tribe
- Synanthedonini
- Genus
- Carmenta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mid to high elevation montane meadows.
Geographic Range
Western Alberta to northwestern BC, south to Arizona and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore in the roots of wild geranium ( Geranium , Geraniaceae). Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers.
Life History
Poorly known. Like all sesiids, the larvae are undoubtedly borers in the host plant. A female was observed ovipositing on wild Geranium, and sesiid larvae have been obtained from the roots of wild Geranium on more than one occasion, but none have been successfully reared to adults.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta giliae. 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 Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Matthias Buck , Jason D. Roberts , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599
What is Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599?
Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599 (Carmenta giliae) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599?
Wingspan: ♂ 26-28 mm, ♀ 24-30 mm.
How do you identify Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599?
Adult - see Engelhardt description and figures in Print References and E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum page in Internet References.
Where is Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mid to high elevation montane meadows. |
| Range | Western Alberta to northwestern BC, south to Arizona and New Mexico. |
What does Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599 eat?
The diet of the Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599 includes Larvae bore in the roots of wild geranium ( Geranium , Geraniaceae). Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers..
What is the life cycle of a Carmenta giliae - Hodges#2599?
Poorly known. Like all sesiids, the larvae are undoubtedly borers in the host plant. A female was observed ovipositing on wild Geranium, and sesiid larvae have been obtained from the roots of wild Geranium on more than one occasion, but none have been successfully reared to adults.