Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876
Proserpinus clarkiae
This record describes Proserpinus clarkiae (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Proserpinus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills
Geographic Range
British Columbia south to Baja California; Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming
Seasonal Activity
adults fly March to June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on Clarkia unguiculata and related plants in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). usda.gov - Clarkia unguiculata plant information
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: clarkiae is Latin for "of Clarkia". Clarkia is a genus of plants in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) that are the main foodplant for this species. The plant genus was itself named for the explorer William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Proserpinus clarkiae. 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 Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876
How big is Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876?
wingspan 3-3 cm
Where is Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | oak woodland and pine-oak woodland in foothills |
| Range | British Columbia south to Baja California; Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming |
What does Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876 eat?
The diet of the Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876 includes The larvae feed on Clarkia unguiculata and related plants in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). usda.gov - Clarkia unguiculata plant information.
When is Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876 active?
Clark's Day Sphinx - Hodges#7876: seasonal activity - adults fly March to June.