Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606
Carmenta phoradendri
This record describes Carmenta phoradendri (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see Engelhardt 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
Geographic Range
Known only from southern Arizona, south Texas, and Mexico. , , Type Location: San Antonio, Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore into the swollen basal stems of mistletoe ( Phoradendron leucarpum , Viscaceae) commonly attached to branches of mesquite. Whittaker found the larvae in Christmas mistletoe ( Phoradendron tomentosum ) in south Texas.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The species name phoradendri refers to the genus name of its host plants ( Phoradendron ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta phoradendri. 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 Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606
What is Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606?
Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606 (Carmenta phoradendri) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606?
Wingspan 18-20 mm. ,
How do you identify Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606?
Adult - see Engelhardt in Print References.
Where is Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606 found?
Range: Known only from southern Arizona, south Texas, and Mexico. , , Type Location: San Antonio, Texas.
What does Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606 eat?
The diet of the Mistletoe Borer - Hodges#2606 includes Larvae bore into the swollen basal stems of mistletoe ( Phoradendron leucarpum , Viscaceae) commonly attached to branches of mesquite. Whittaker found the larvae in Christmas mistletoe ( Phoradendron tomentosum ) in south Texas..