Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557
Synanthedon alleri
This record describes Synanthedon alleri (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - a melanistic form accounts for 5% of specimens in Florida.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sesiinae
- Tribe
- Synanthedonini
- Genus
- Synanthedon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Across the Gulf Coast Plain from Georgia to Mississippi. Type Location: Chickasaw, Alabama.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown but possibly holly ( Hex ) species.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named after Thomas S. Van Aller, of Mobile Alabama, who collected the type specimens for Engelhardt.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon alleri. 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 Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Brad Barnd; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557
What is Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557?
Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557 (Synanthedon alleri) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan: ♂ 20-23 mm, ♀ 22-24 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 9-12 mm. |
How do you identify Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557?
Adult - a melanistic form accounts for 5% of specimens in Florida.
Where is Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557 found?
Range: Across the Gulf Coast Plain from Georgia to Mississippi. Type Location: Chickasaw, Alabama.
What does Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557 eat?
The diet of the Synanthedon alleri - Hodges#2557 includes Unknown but possibly holly ( Hex ) species..