Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780
Ceratonyx satanaria
This record describes Ceratonyx satanaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larvae - similar in form to that of arizonensis , with a very long pair of prothoracic filaments, but has three small projections on the second abdominal segment and only a stump of the filament on the eighth abdominal segment. The body is gray, with the head, filaments, subdorsal line and all legs rusty red
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Nacophorini
- Genus
- Ceratonyx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The coastal plains of the southeastern United States, extending from South Carolina to Georgia and northern Florida, to near the Mississippi River in west-central Mississippi, and to eastern Texas Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from January through April.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Liquidamber styraciflua L. (sweetgum) USDA plant profile
Life History
Edna found this pdf by Andrei Sourakov and Minna Stubina which describes the caterpillar.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: satanaria is in reference to the Satanic "horned" look of the larva
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ceratonyx satanaria. 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 Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780
What is Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780?
Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 (Ceratonyx satanaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780?
35mm (Based on Vargo specimen)
How do you identify Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780?
Larvae - similar in form to that of arizonensis , with a very long pair of prothoracic filaments, but has three small projections on the second abdominal segment and only a stump of the filament on the eighth abdominal segment. The body is gray, with the head, filaments, subdorsal line and all legs rusty red
Where is Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 found?
Range: The coastal plains of the southeastern United States, extending from South Carolina to Georgia and northern Florida, to near the Mississippi River in west-central Mississippi, and to eastern Texas Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
What does Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 eat?
The diet of the Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 includes Liquidamber styraciflua L. (sweetgum) USDA plant profile.
When is Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780 active?
Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780: seasonal activity - Most records are from January through April..
What is the life cycle of a Ceratonyx satanaria - Hodges#6780?
Edna found this pdf by Andrei Sourakov and Minna Stubina which describes the caterpillar.