Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858
Eumorpha satellitia
This record describes Eumorpha satellitia (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light brown with blackish rectangular patch midway along inner margin, and dark triangular patches near apex, midway along costa, and at anal angle; hindwing mostly dark with diffuse yellowish shading at base, and small pale patch at anal angle
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Eumorpha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Brazil and northern Argentina, north to southern Texas and Arizona
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from mid-June to mid-November in southern Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on treebine ( Cissus spp.) in the grape family (Vitaceae) adults take nectar from flowers of various herbaceous plants
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: satellitia is Latin for "escort, convoy; guard, protection". What it has to do with this species isn't given in the original description.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eumorpha satellitia. 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 Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ethan Kistler; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858
What is Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858?
Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 (Eumorpha satellitia) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858?
Wingspan 115-134 mm (4 1/2 - 5 1/4 inches)
How do you identify Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858?
Adult: forewing light brown with blackish rectangular patch midway along inner margin, and dark triangular patches near apex, midway along costa, and at anal angle; hindwing mostly dark with diffuse yellowish shading at base, and small pale patch at anal angle
Where is Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 found?
Range: Brazil and northern Argentina, north to southern Texas and Arizona
What does Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 eat?
The diet of the Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 includes larvae feed on treebine ( Cissus spp.) in the grape family (Vitaceae) adults take nectar from flowers of various herbaceous plants.
When is Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858 active?
Satellite Sphinx - Hodges#7858: seasonal activity - adults fly from mid-June to mid-November in southern Texas.