Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609
Carmenta querci
This record describes Carmenta querci (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Southern Arizona. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore and tunnel in spongy galls found on Mexican blue oak ( Quercus oblongifolia Torr., Fagaceae) and Arizona white oak ( Quercus arizonica Sarg.).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name querci derived from the genus name of oaks ( Quercus ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta querci. 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 Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Wolgemuth; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609
How big is Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609?
Wingspan 12-20 mm.
Where is Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609 found?
Range: Southern Arizona. ,
What does Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609 eat?
The diet of the Western Oakgall Clearwing - Hodges#2609 includes Larvae bore and tunnel in spongy galls found on Mexican blue oak ( Quercus oblongifolia Torr., Fagaceae) and Arizona white oak ( Quercus arizonica Sarg.)..