Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804
Sphinx libocedrus
This record describes Sphinx libocedrus (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewings | Forewings and most of body nondescript gray, cryptic. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings darker gray with a narrow pale tranverse band. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen has black sides with a row of five bold white spots, concealed beneath the wings when at rest. G3 - threatened due to habitat destruction and is uncommon. BAMONA Knudson and Bordelon report this species as fairly common in southwestern Texas to Arizona. |
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
Habitat
Arid brushlands, chaparral, and prairie breaks
Geographic Range
southern California to Baja and east to Oklahoma and Texas
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to Ocotber.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on the foliage of plants in the Oleaceae family. New Mexico Privet ( Forestiera neomexicana ) Elbow-bush ( F. angustifolia ) Little-leaf Ash ( Fraxinus gooddingii )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphinx libocedrus. 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 Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804
What is Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804?
Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 (Sphinx libocedrus) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804?
Wingspan: 7-8 cm
How do you identify Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewings | Forewings and most of body nondescript gray, cryptic. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings darker gray with a narrow pale tranverse band. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen has black sides with a row of five bold white spots, concealed beneath the wings when at rest. |
Where is Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid brushlands, chaparral, and prairie breaks |
| Range | southern California to Baja and east to Oklahoma and Texas |
What does Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 eat?
The diet of the Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 includes Caterpillars feed on the foliage of plants in the Oleaceae family. New Mexico Privet ( Forestiera neomexicana ) Elbow-bush ( F. angustifolia ) Little-leaf Ash ( Fraxinus gooddingii ).
When is Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804 active?
Incense Cedar Sphinx - Hodges#7804: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to Ocotber..