Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814
Sphinx sequoiae
This record describes Sphinx sequoiae (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description at Pacific Northwest Moths
Identification notes
Description at Pacific Northwest Moths
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
Northern Baja California to southeastern Arizona, Utah and Oregon.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May to August ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) listed several larval host plants. ( 3 ) Juniperus californica Carrière (California juniper). Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little (Utah juniper). Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin (Incense cedar).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphinx sequoiae. 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 Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814
What is Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814?
Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 (Sphinx sequoiae) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814?
Forewing length 22-32 mm. ( 3 ) Sphinx dollii is the only smaller species of the genus. ( 4 )
How do you identify Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814?
Description at Pacific Northwest Moths
Where is Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 found?
Range: Northern Baja California to southeastern Arizona, Utah and Oregon.
What does Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 eat?
The diet of the Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 includes Powell & Opler (2009) listed several larval host plants. ( 3 ) Juniperus californica Carrière (California juniper). Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little (Utah juniper). Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin (Incense cedar)..
When is Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814 active?
Sphinx sequoiae - Hodges#7814: seasonal activity - Adults fly May to August ( 3 ).