The Seraph - Hodges#7667
Olceclostera seraphica
This record describes Olceclostera seraphica (species). Recorded family: Apatelodidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Where the two species overlap in eastern Texas a view of the ventral of the hindwing is needed
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Apatelodidae (American Silkworm Moths)
- Subfamily
- Apatelodinae
- Genus
- Olceclostera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se AZ to s. TX - Map ,
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler reported a single brood with adults flying from mid July to August. There are records of adults from February to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been noted feeding on Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) and certain Ash species (Fraxinus greggii, F. pennsylvanica)
Life History
Unreported.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Seraphica is Latin for "of or like a seraph" (a seraph is a type of angel). In the original description, Dyar mentions that it was "Nearly allied to angelica Grote", so the name is no doubt a reference to that species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olceclostera seraphica. 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 The Seraph - Hodges#7667 (7)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About The Seraph - Hodges#7667
What is The Seraph - Hodges#7667?
The Seraph - Hodges#7667 (Olceclostera seraphica) is a species in the family Apatelodidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Seraph - Hodges#7667?
Forewing length 20-25 mm.
How do you identify The Seraph - Hodges#7667?
Where the two species overlap in eastern Texas a view of the ventral of the hindwing is needed
Where is The Seraph - Hodges#7667 found?
Range: se AZ to s. TX - Map ,
What does The Seraph - Hodges#7667 eat?
The diet of the The Seraph - Hodges#7667 includes Larvae have been noted feeding on Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) and certain Ash species (Fraxinus greggii, F. pennsylvanica).
When is The Seraph - Hodges#7667 active?
The Seraph - Hodges#7667: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler reported a single brood with adults flying from mid July to August. There are records of adults from February to October..
What is the life cycle of a The Seraph - Hodges#7667?
Unreported.