Willow Borer - Hodges#2572
Synanthedon proxima
This record describes Synanthedon proxima (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - apical third to half of antennae white, and basal portion black; body all black except broken yellow collar at back of head, and yellow dorsolateral stripes on thorax; legs black with white rings at joints. Larva - white with brown head. ( 3 )
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
Eastern United States and southeastern Canada, west to Manitoba and Nebraska. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore in bark of low-growing willow species ( Salix ). Young larvae invade the burrows of the beetle Cryptorhynchus lapathi and the galls of Saperda concolor . ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon proxima. 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 Willow Borer - Hodges#2572 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Willow Borer - Hodges#2572
What is Willow Borer - Hodges#2572?
Willow Borer - Hodges#2572 (Synanthedon proxima) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Willow Borer - Hodges#2572?
Forewing length 8-10 mm.
How do you identify Willow Borer - Hodges#2572?
Adult - apical third to half of antennae white, and basal portion black; body all black except broken yellow collar at back of head, and yellow dorsolateral stripes on thorax; legs black with white rings at joints. Larva - white with brown head. ( 3 )
Where is Willow Borer - Hodges#2572 found?
Range: Eastern United States and southeastern Canada, west to Manitoba and Nebraska. ,
What does Willow Borer - Hodges#2572 eat?
The diet of the Willow Borer - Hodges#2572 includes Larvae bore in bark of low-growing willow species ( Salix ). Young larvae invade the burrows of the beetle Cryptorhynchus lapathi and the galls of Saperda concolor . ,.