Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620
Penstemonia edwardsii
This record describes Penstemonia edwardsii (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see Engelhardt in Print References. Adults respond to (Z,Z)-3,13-ODDA pheromone lures (Meyer & Cranshaw, 1994).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sesiinae
- Tribe
- Synanthedonini
- Genus
- Penstemonia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Arid canyons and mesas.
Geographic Range
Southwestern Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore the roots of various species of beardtongue ( Penstemon , Scrophulariaceae), including scarlet bugler ( Penstemon centranthifolius ), Rocky Mountain penstemon ( Penstemon strictus ), oneside penstemon ( Penstemon unilateralis ) and firecracker penstemon ( Penstemon eatonii ).
Life History
See Engelhardt in Print References.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of entomologist Henry Edwards for his many contributions to the knowledge of North American clearwings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Penstemonia 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 Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620
What is Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620?
Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620 (Penstemonia edwardsii) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620?
Wingspan: ♂ 18-20 mm, ♀ 20-25 mm.
How do you identify Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620?
Adult - see Engelhardt in Print References.
Where is Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid canyons and mesas. |
| Range | Southwestern Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. |
What does Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620 eat?
The diet of the Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620 includes Larvae bore the roots of various species of beardtongue ( Penstemon , Scrophulariaceae), including scarlet bugler ( Penstemon centranthifolius ), Rocky Mountain penstemon ( Penstemon strictus ), oneside penstemon ( Penstemon unilateralis ) and firecracker penstemon ( Penstemon eatonii )..
What is the life cycle of a Penstemon Borer - Hodges#2620?
See Engelhardt in Print References.