Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879
Proserpinus terlooii
This record describes Proserpinus terlooii (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - uniform olive green with a darker median band. Hindwing is red with an olive green border. Adults are not strongly attracted to lights. They are most often found at flowers in early evening or at night. Use a flashlight at night to find adults on flowers and larvae on host plants.
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
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are in Boerhavia (Nyctaginaceae) with specific records on scarlet spiderling ( Boerhavia coccinea ), Coulter's spiderling ( B. coulteri ) and erect spiderling ( B. erecta ). Oddly, all other members of this genus, and two related genera, feed on plants from the Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae) . This fact is used as evidence for saltational evolution in Proserpinus .
Life History
Eggs; first instar larva; larva; larva; pupa; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: At the request of Dr. Herman Behr , this species was named for Baron Popelaire de Terloo (sometimes Terloot), who collected the specimens in Behr's collection that Edwards described. Unfortunately or not, Edwards continued the "misprinted" (according to Behr) spelling "Terloo" from Behr's description of the butterfly Neophasia terlooii in 1869. An Attempt was made to amend the spelling of the butterfly but rejected as unjustified. In any event, there are many references to the baron in letters and scientific descriptions noting that he collected everything from mummies, to bugs, to birds in Chile, Peru, Mexico, and the Sierra Madres of California. No matter the spelling, Belgian nobleman Jean-Baptiste Joseph Louis Popelaire de Terloo (1810-1870) was a well-known explorer, born in Brussels, married in Chile and died in Algiers. Besides the moth and butterfly, Baron Terloo has a South American hummingbird ( Discosura popelairii ) named for him.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Proserpinus terlooii. 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 Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879
What is Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879?
Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 (Proserpinus terlooii) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879?
Wingspan 4.2-4.8 cm. Larva to 4 cm.
How do you identify Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879?
Adult - uniform olive green with a darker median band. Hindwing is red with an olive green border.
Where is Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 found?
Range: Southern Arizona.
What does Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 eat?
The diet of the Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 includes Larval hosts are in Boerhavia (Nyctaginaceae) with specific records on scarlet spiderling ( Boerhavia coccinea ), Coulter's spiderling ( B. coulteri ) and erect spiderling ( B. erecta ). Oddly, all other members of this genus, and two related genera, feed on plants from the Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae) . This fact is used as evidence for saltational evolution in Proserpinus ..
When is Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879 active?
Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879: seasonal activity - Adults fly July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Terloo Sphinx - Hodges#7879?
Eggs; first instar larva; larva; larva; pupa; adult