Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808
Sphinx franckii
This record describes Sphinx franckii (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is gray along the costal half, yellowish brown on the rest of the wing; with black dashes and a black line along the outer margin. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is black with a narrow brown median band and base. Uncommon and northern populations are in decline (Wagner, 2012). |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Tribe
- Sphingini
- Genus
- Sphinx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US - Map (MPG) Holotype male: Kansas City, Missouri (from the collection of George Franck).
Seasonal Activity
One flight from June-July in the north, sometimes a partial second brood from August-September in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts hosts are primarily elm ( Ulmus ) and ash ( Fraxinus ). Also recorded on California privet ( Ligustrum ovalifolium ). Adults take nectar.
Life History
Females lay eggs singly on the host plant. Newly-hatched caterpillars eat at least part of their eggshells. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in underground cells.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Brooklyn entomologist George Franck (1839-1923).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphinx franckii. 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 Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthew Roth; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Jason D. Roberts , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808
What is Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808?
Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 (Sphinx franckii) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808?
Wingspan 10-12.8 cm.
How do you identify Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is gray along the costal half, yellowish brown on the rest of the wing; with black dashes and a black line along the outer margin. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is black with a narrow brown median band and base. |
Where is Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | e US - Map (MPG) Holotype |
| Male | Kansas City, Missouri (from the collection of George Franck). |
What does Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 eat?
The diet of the Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 includes Larval hosts hosts are primarily elm ( Ulmus ) and ash ( Fraxinus ). Also recorded on California privet ( Ligustrum ovalifolium ). Adults take nectar..
When is Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808 active?
Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808: seasonal activity - One flight from June-July in the north, sometimes a partial second brood from August-September in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Franck's Sphinx - Hodges#7808?
Females lay eggs singly on the host plant. Newly-hatched caterpillars eat at least part of their eggshells. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in underground cells.