Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270
Lymire edwardsii
This record describes Lymire edwardsii (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - wings and thorax are bluish gray. The abdomen is blue dorsally and white ventrally. The prothorax and head are orange-yellow ventrally. Dorsally and laterally the posterior portion of the head and anterior margin of the prothorax are orange-yellow. The antennae are pectinate. When touched, the larva flip from the leaf and drop to the ground on silken threads. This species is usually destructive on shade or ornamental trees.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Lymire
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: As far as known, the caterpillars feed only on various species of Ficus plants.
Life History
Life cycle images: larva; larva; larva making cocoon; cocoon with pupa; cocoon; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet edwardsii in honor of Henry Edwards , who collected the first specimens.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lymire edwardsii. 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 Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by anitagould , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270
What is Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270?
Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270 (Lymire edwardsii) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270?
Wingspan about 30-40 mm.
How do you identify Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270?
Adult - wings and thorax are bluish gray. The abdomen is blue dorsally and white ventrally. The prothorax and head are orange-yellow ventrally. Dorsally and laterally the posterior portion of the head and anterior margin of the prothorax are orange-yellow. The antennae are pectinate.
What does Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270 eat?
The diet of the Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270 includes As far as known, the caterpillars feed only on various species of Ficus plants..
What is the life cycle of a Edwards' Wasp Moth - Hodges#8270?
Life cycle images: larva; larva; larva making cocoon; cocoon with pupa; cocoon; adult