Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868
Cautethia spuria
This record describes Cautethia spuria (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hindwing is dark yellow-orange in the basal half and black on the outer half. Cautethia spuria is commonly parasitized by Belvosia sp. (Tachinidae).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Cautethia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
South Texas to South America; strays north to Oklahoma. Moth Photographers Group has Arizona record.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common in January; September to December in Texas. (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Chiococca alba (Indian Milkberry). Adults take flower nectar.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cautethia spuria. 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 Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868
What is Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868?
Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 (Cautethia spuria) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868?
Wingspan averages 35-45 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868?
Hindwing is dark yellow-orange in the basal half and black on the outer half.
Where is Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 found?
Range: South Texas to South America; strays north to Oklahoma. Moth Photographers Group has Arizona record.
What does Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 eat?
The diet of the Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 includes Larval host is Chiococca alba (Indian Milkberry). Adults take flower nectar..
When is Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868 active?
Spurious Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7868: seasonal activity - Adults are most common in January; September to December in Texas. (MPG).