Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830
Pseudosphinx tetrio
This record describes Pseudosphinx tetrio (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The larva of this hawkmoth has a long thread-like anal horn. It is very strikingly colored, the body being purplish black, girdled with yellow rings between the segments, and the head and anal claspers being bright red, of the color of sealing wax.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Dilophonotini
- Genus
- Pseudosphinx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The insect occurs not uncommonly in southern Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on Frangipani Plumeria , and other plants in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudosphinx tetrio. 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 Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by Matthew Roth , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830
What is Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830?
Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830 (Pseudosphinx tetrio) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830?
5 - 5 1/2 inches (12.7 - 14 cm) wingspan
How do you identify Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830?
The larva of this hawkmoth has a long thread-like anal horn. It is very strikingly colored, the body being purplish black, girdled with yellow rings between the segments, and the head and anal claspers being bright red, of the color of sealing wax.
Where is Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830 found?
Range: The insect occurs not uncommonly in southern Florida.
What does Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830 eat?
The diet of the Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830 includes The larvae feed on Frangipani Plumeria , and other plants in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae)..