Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884
Darapsa versicolor
This record describes Darapsa versicolor (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing greenish brown, curved white patches. See Internet refernces.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Darapsa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Near wet areas with hostplants?
Geographic Range
e. N. Amer. - Map - MPG
Seasonal Activity
mostly Jun-Aug - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars: wild hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens (aka smooth hydrangea, sevenbark); buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis ; and water-willow, Decodon verticillatus .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Darapsa versicolor. 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 Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Abigail Parker , Kyhl Austin , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884
What is Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884?
Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 (Darapsa versicolor) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884?
Wingspan 5.8 - 8 cm
How do you identify Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884?
Forewing greenish brown, curved white patches. See Internet refernces.
Where is Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Near wet areas with hostplants? |
| Range | e. N. Amer. - Map - MPG |
What does Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 eat?
The diet of the Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 includes Caterpillars: wild hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens (aka smooth hydrangea, sevenbark); buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis ; and water-willow, Decodon verticillatus ..
When is Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884 active?
Hydrangea Sphinx - Hodges#7884: seasonal activity - mostly Jun-Aug - MPG.