Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539
Eichlinia grandis
This record describes Eichlinia grandis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Melittia grandis (Strecker) - female Det. R. E. Fleischer, 2010 The host of this large moth is Curcurbita foetidissima . I have captured this moth in both southwest Kansas and southern Arizona but it is also found in California, Texas, New Mexico. The leg and abdomen coloration are good characteristics for positive identification as compared with M. gloriosa (William H. Taft, 29 June, 2008).
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
CA-TX-KS Type Locality: Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval Host: Cucurbita foetidissima - Missouri gourd Plant Profile - USDA
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eichlinia grandis. 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 grandis - Hodges#2539 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy , John Rosenfeld
Frequently Asked Questions About Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539
What is Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539?
Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539 (Eichlinia grandis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539?
Forewing length 16-21 mm.
How do you identify Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539?
Melittia grandis (Strecker) - female Det. R. E. Fleischer, 2010
Where is Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539 found?
Range: CA-TX-KS Type Locality: Texas
What does Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539 eat?
The diet of the Eichlinia grandis - Hodges#2539 includes Larval Host: Cucurbita foetidissima - Missouri gourd Plant Profile - USDA.