Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524
Paranthrene tabaniformis
This record describes Paranthrene tabaniformis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - ivory with pale yellow-brown head. Dorsal surface yellowish with two brown furrows that converge at the head. Spriracles elliptical and prominent. ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tinthiinae
- Tribe
- Paranthrenini
- Genus
- Paranthrene
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Introduced from Europe. Alaska south through Canada and most of the United States east of the Rockies. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore in the roots, low trunk, and branches of low shrubby willows ( Salix ) in the north and cottonwood ( Populus ) is prefered in the southern part of its range. Alder, birch and hawthorn are hosts in Europe but unconfirmed in North America. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Life History
See Solomom in Print References.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tabaniformis possibly from Latain tabanus, meaning "horse fly-like."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paranthrene tabaniformis. 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 Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , anitagould , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524
What is Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524?
Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524 (Paranthrene tabaniformis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524?
Forewing length 8-14 mm. ( 3 ) Larva to 24 mm. ( 4 )
How do you identify Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524?
Larva - ivory with pale yellow-brown head. Dorsal surface yellowish with two brown furrows that converge at the head. Spriracles elliptical and prominent. ( 4 )
Where is Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524 found?
Range: Introduced from Europe. Alaska south through Canada and most of the United States east of the Rockies. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
What does Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524 eat?
The diet of the Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524 includes Larvae bore in the roots, low trunk, and branches of low shrubby willows ( Salix ) in the north and cottonwood ( Populus ) is prefered in the southern part of its range. Alder, birch and hawthorn are hosts in Europe but unconfirmed in North America. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ).
What is the life cycle of a Dusky Clearwing - Hodges#2524?
See Solomom in Print References.