Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538
Eichlinia snowii
This record describes Eichlinia snowii (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
Kansas and eastern Colorado to Texas, southern Arizona and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant is Cucurbita foetidissima (buffalo gourd).
Life History
Eggs are laid on leaf petioles or tender shoots on the host plant. Young larvae bore inside the shoots and cause conspicuous gall-like swellings up to 3" x 1". Mature larvae drop to the ground from a hole made in the bottom of the gall and create slik-lined cocoons below the surface where the pupate. For rearing purposes, large occupied galls can be covererd with soil in a cage. If empty galls are found the larvae/pupae are easily found by carefully scratching the soil near the plant (Williams, 1913; Engelhardt, 1946).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor or Prof. F.H Snow.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eichlinia snowii. 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 Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tom Bentley; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538
How big is Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 8-12 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 24-26 mm. Larva to 23 mm (Williams, 1913). Cocoon 17 mm (williams, 1913). |
Where is Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538 found?
Range: Kansas and eastern Colorado to Texas, southern Arizona and New Mexico.
What does Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538 eat?
The diet of the Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538 includes Larval foodplant is Cucurbita foetidissima (buffalo gourd)..
What is the life cycle of a Clearwing Borer Moth - Hodges#2538?
Eggs are laid on leaf petioles or tender shoots on the host plant. Young larvae bore inside the shoots and cause conspicuous gall-like swellings up to 3" x 1". Mature larvae drop to the ground from a hole made in the bottom of the gall and create slik-lined cocoons below the surface where the pupate. For rearing purposes, large occupied galls can be covererd with soil in a cage. If empty galls are found the larvae/pupae are easily found by carefully scratching the soil near the plant (Williams, 1913; Engelhardt, 1946).