LepidopteraSesiidae – Clearwing Moths

Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603

Carmenta odda

This record describes Carmenta odda (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 - Carmenta odda
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Adult - see Duckworth & Eichlin in Print 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

Southeastern coastal plain.

Geographic Range

There are records from South Carolina to Florida, and west to eastern Texas. , Type Location: Trenton, South Carolina.

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Odda perhaps simply meaning "odd". The authors describe the male genatalia as "unlike any known species of Sessidae in North America."

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta odda. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 (2)

Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 - photo 1
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 - photo 2
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603

What is Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603?

Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 (Carmenta odda) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603?

Forewing length 9-10 mm.

How do you identify Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603?

Adult - see Duckworth & Eichlin in Print References.

Where is Carmenta odda - Hodges#2603 found?
FeatureDetails
HabitatSoutheastern coastal plain.
RangeThere are records from South Carolina to Florida, and west to eastern Texas. , Type Location: Trenton, South Carolina.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.