Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799
Lintneria istar
This record describes Lintneria istar (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing gray with brown tint and blackish band running from base to middle of outer margin; hindwing black with two white bands.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Tribe
- Sphingini
- Genus
- Lintneria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
pine/oak woodlands
Geographic Range
southern Arizona to southern Texas, south to Guatemala
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from early March to October in Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Salvia spp. Adults probably feed on flower nectar.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lintneria istar. 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 Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799
What is Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799?
Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 (Lintneria istar) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799?
Wingspan 102-114 mm.
How do you identify Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799?
Adult: forewing gray with brown tint and blackish band running from base to middle of outer margin; hindwing black with two white bands.
Where is Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | pine/oak woodlands |
| Range | southern Arizona to southern Texas, south to Guatemala |
What does Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 eat?
The diet of the Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 includes Larvae feed on Salvia spp. Adults probably feed on flower nectar..
When is Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799 active?
Istar Sphinx - Hodges#7799: seasonal activity - Adults fly from early March to October in Texas..