Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836
Erinnyis crameri
This record describes Erinnyis crameri (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Key points are the lack of black bands on the dorsal of the gray abdomen, and the underside does not have black spots. The hindwing is dull orange with a narrow black border along the entire outer margin.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Dilophonotini
- Genus
- Erinnyis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
so. CA to so. TX, so. FL / Mex. to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Most records for adults are June through October. Adults fly year round in southern Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectar feeders and are attracted to bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis L. ( 3 ) Larval hosts include several plants in Apocynaceae (dogbane family). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erinnyis crameri. 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 Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836
What is Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836?
Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 (Erinnyis crameri) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836?
Wingspan 83-95 mm. ,
How do you identify Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836?
Key points are the lack of black bands on the dorsal of the gray abdomen, and the underside does not have black spots. The hindwing is dull orange with a narrow black border along the entire outer margin.
Where is Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 found?
Range: so. CA to so. TX, so. FL / Mex. to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map ( 3 )
What does Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 eat?
The diet of the Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 includes Adults are nectar feeders and are attracted to bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis L. ( 3 ) Larval hosts include several plants in Apocynaceae (dogbane family). ( 3 ).
When is Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836 active?
Cramer's Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7836: seasonal activity - Most records for adults are June through October. Adults fly year round in southern Florida..