Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607
Carmenta prosopis
This record describes Carmenta prosopis (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
From western Texas to southern Arizona and into Mexico. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed in galls on legumes caused by other insects, including small woody galls on honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa , Fabaceae) caused by encyrtid wasps and stem galls on catclaw mimosa ( Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera ), Fabaceae). ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The species name prosopis taken from the genus name of its first known plant host ( Posopis ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta prosopis. 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 Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by KenW , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607
What is Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607?
Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607 (Carmenta prosopis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 5-8 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 13-16 mm. , |
How do you identify Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607?
Adult - see Engelhardt in Print References.
Where is Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607 found?
Range: From western Texas to southern Arizona and into Mexico. ,
What does Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607 eat?
The diet of the Mesquite Clearwing Moth - Hodges#2607 includes The larvae feed in galls on legumes caused by other insects, including small woody galls on honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa , Fabaceae) caused by encyrtid wasps and stem galls on catclaw mimosa ( Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera ), Fabaceae). ,.