Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833
Erinnyis lassauxii
This record describes Erinnyis lassauxii (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown with gray streaks along inner margin, and gray patch at apex; hindwing dark brown with varying amounts of dark orange basally; abdomen with conspicuous black and white transverse bands Larva: mature caterpillars have dark green body with 2 whitish dorsal rings behind head, and whitish dorsal strip along distal two-thirds of abdomen; apical horn thin, grayish, with bent tip.
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
AZ, TX, FL / W. Indies / Mexico to South America - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is August to December.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on Papaya ( Carica papaya ), Manihot esculenta in the spurge family [Euphorbiaceae], and various plants in the milkweed family [Asclepiadaceae] adults feed on flower nectar.
Life History
The mature larvae pupate in cocoons spun on the ground; multiple generations year-round in the tropics. Life cycle images: larva; pupa; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Boisduval based his description on a specimen sent to him from Buenos Aires by a naturalist named Lassaux (his first name isn't recorded), who was in South America to collect botanical specimens. Boisduval mentions in a later work that Lassaux was a promising scientist who died young.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erinnyis lassauxii. 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 Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833
What is Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833?
Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 (Erinnyis lassauxii) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833?
Wingspan 80-105 mm.
How do you identify Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833?
Adult: forewing dark brown with gray streaks along inner margin, and gray patch at apex; hindwing dark brown with varying amounts of dark orange basally; abdomen with conspicuous black and white transverse bands Larva: mature caterpillars have dark green body with 2 whitish dorsal rings behind head, and whitish dorsal strip along distal two-thirds of abdomen; apical horn thin, grayish, with bent tip.
Where is Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 found?
Range: AZ, TX, FL / W. Indies / Mexico to South America - Map (MPG)
What does Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 eat?
The diet of the Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 includes The larvae feed on Papaya ( Carica papaya ), Manihot esculenta in the spurge family [Euphorbiaceae], and various plants in the milkweed family [Asclepiadaceae] adults feed on flower nectar..
When is Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833 active?
Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833: seasonal activity - The main flight period is August to December..
What is the life cycle of a Lassaux's Sphinx - Hodges#7833?
The mature larvae pupate in cocoons spun on the ground; multiple generations year-round in the tropics. Life cycle images: larva; pupa; adult