Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837
Erinnyis obscura
This record describes Erinnyis obscura (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This small species can always be distinguished from E. ello , which it resembles in having dark longitudinal shade through the fore wings (males only), by its much smaller size, and by the absence of the white and black lateral stripes upon the abdomen. male . . . . female Erinnyis domingonus (Butler, 1875) is concidered a dark color morph in Tuttle.
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
s. CA to TX-OK, FL w strays to the north - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
year round in TX & FL (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: North American HOSTS : Gulf Coast Swallow-wort ( Cynanchum angustifolium ) Bearded Swallow-wort ( Cynanchum barbigerum ) White Twinevine ( Funastrum clausum ) Fringed Twinevine ( Funastrum cynanchoides ) Hartweg's Twinevine ( Funastrum cynanchoides heterophyllum ) Poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima )
Life History
See Comstock & Dammers.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: obscura (L). "dark, dusky, obscure"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erinnyis obscura. 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 Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz , tom murray , Matthew Roth , Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Blocky , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837
What is Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837?
Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 (Erinnyis obscura) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837?
Wingspan 5.6 - 6.5 cm. Larvae mature to 5.1 cm (Comstock & Dammers, 1935). Pupa 32 mm (Comstock & Dammers, 1935).
How do you identify Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837?
This small species can always be distinguished from E. ello , which it resembles in having dark longitudinal shade through the fore wings (males only), by its much smaller size, and by the absence of the white and black lateral stripes upon the abdomen. male . . . . female
Where is Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 found?
Range: s. CA to TX-OK, FL w strays to the north - Map (MPG)
What does Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 eat?
The diet of the Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 includes North American HOSTS : Gulf Coast Swallow-wort ( Cynanchum angustifolium ) Bearded Swallow-wort ( Cynanchum barbigerum ) White Twinevine ( Funastrum clausum ) Fringed Twinevine ( Funastrum cynanchoides ) Hartweg's Twinevine ( Funastrum cynanchoides heterophyllum ) Poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ).
When is Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837 active?
Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837: seasonal activity - year round in TX & FL (MPG).
What is the life cycle of a Obscure Sphinx - Hodges#7837?
See Comstock & Dammers.