Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552
Synanthedon rileyana
This record describes Synanthedon rileyana (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
Eastern two thirds of the United States and southern Canada.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore in the roots of Carolina horsenettle ( Solanum carolinense , Solanaceae), which is a common weed found in sandy soils and often mixed within corn and other field crops.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Patronym for Charles Valentine Riley (1843-1895).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon rileyana. 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 Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Harsi S. Parker , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552
How big is Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552?
Forewing length 7-12 mm.
Where is Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552 found?
Range: Eastern two thirds of the United States and southern Canada.
What does Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552 eat?
The diet of the Riley's Clearwing - Hodges#2552 includes Larvae bore in the roots of Carolina horsenettle ( Solanum carolinense , Solanaceae), which is a common weed found in sandy soils and often mixed within corn and other field crops..