Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578
Synanthedon chrysidipennis
This record describes Synanthedon chrysidipennis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Distribution.- At higher elevations from British Columbia south to Utah and California. The type-locality, Los Angeles, is probably erroneous and may simply represent a locale from which the type specimen was sent.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae have been recorded as boring in the roots of Polygonum davisiae and Polygonum sp. (Polygonaceae). Henne notes that several specimens were observed in Smokey Valley, Tulare County visiting flowers of Achillea lanulosa Nutt. (Asteraceae).
Life History
Biology.- Pupation takes place in cocoons in the larval burrow near the crown of the host plant, or the larvae may construct silk-lined tubes extending from the exit hole in the root to the soil surface to provide a means of escape for the mature pupa. Adults can be seen, often in large numbers, from late June through early August flying about the host plants in alpine meadows. -- William H. Taft, 19 August, 2016
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon chrysidipennis. 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 chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578
Where is Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578 found?
Range: Distribution.- At higher elevations from British Columbia south to Utah and California. The type-locality, Los Angeles, is probably erroneous and may simply represent a locale from which the type specimen was sent.
What does Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578 eat?
The diet of the Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578 includes The larvae have been recorded as boring in the roots of Polygonum davisiae and Polygonum sp. (Polygonaceae). Henne notes that several specimens were observed in Smokey Valley, Tulare County visiting flowers of Achillea lanulosa Nutt. (Asteraceae)..
What is the life cycle of a Synanthedon chrysidipennis - Hodges#2578?
Biology.- Pupation takes place in cocoons in the larval burrow near the crown of the host plant, or the larvae may construct silk-lined tubes extending from the exit hole in the root to the soil surface to provide a means of escape for the mature pupa. Adults can be seen, often in large numbers, from late June through early August flying about the host plants in alpine meadows. -- William H. Taft, 19 August, 2016