Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612
Carmenta suffusata
This record describes Carmenta suffusata (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance

Engelhardt original description. Males attracted to pheromone bait (E,Z 3, 13-ODDOH). William H. Taft reports the species as rare.
Identification notes
Engelhardt original description.
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
Western Kansas to Texas, east to Florida.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carmenta suffusata. 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 suffusata - Hodges#2612 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612
What is Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612?
Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612 (Carmenta suffusata) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612?
Engelhardt listed the wingspan of males 16 mm and females 18 mm. Forewing length 5-9 mm.
How do you identify Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612?
Engelhardt original description.
Where is Carmenta suffusata - Hodges#2612 found?
Range: Western Kansas to Texas, east to Florida.
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