Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537
Eichlinia calabaza
This record describes Eichlinia calabaza (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
- Melittiini
- Genus
- Eichlinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Tucson, Arizona; Dallas and Beaumont, Texas, south into Mexico - Map (MPG) Type Location: Teotihuacan, Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval bore into the stems of pumpkins and squashes (Cucurbitaceae), including Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. andreana, C. ficifolk, C. texana and C. okachobeensis .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Calabaza , a Spanish word derived from Persian, is a term applied to a variety of gourds and melons grown throughout the world.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eichlinia calabaza. 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 Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537 (8)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tim Loh; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Ken Childs , John Rosenfeld
Frequently Asked Questions About Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537
How big is Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537?
Forewing length 12-15 mm.
Where is Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537 found?
Range: Tucson, Arizona; Dallas and Beaumont, Texas, south into Mexico - Map (MPG) Type Location: Teotihuacan, Mexico.
What does Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537 eat?
The diet of the Eichlinia calabaza - Hodges#2537 includes Larval bore into the stems of pumpkins and squashes (Cucurbitaceae), including Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. andreana, C. ficifolk, C. texana and C. okachobeensis ..