Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586
Synanthedon sequoiae
This record describes Synanthedon sequoiae (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See Duckworth & Eichlin in Print References.
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
Coastal California, from Monterey County north to British Columbia; one record from Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore the wood of various pines, including shore pine, sugar pine, western yellow pine, Bishop pine, and Monterey pine.
Life History
See Duckworth & Eichlin in Print References.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sequoiae named for the host genus for redwood that Edwards associated with the moth. That association was never proven.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon 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 Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Jason D. Roberts , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586
What is Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586?
Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586 (Synanthedon sequoiae) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586?
Forewing length 10-14 mm.
How do you identify Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586?
See Duckworth & Eichlin in Print References.
Where is Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586 found?
Range: Coastal California, from Monterey County north to British Columbia; one record from Colorado.
What does Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586 eat?
The diet of the Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586 includes Larvae bore the wood of various pines, including shore pine, sugar pine, western yellow pine, Bishop pine, and Monterey pine..
What is the life cycle of a Sequoia Pitch Moth - Hodges#2586?
See Duckworth & Eichlin in Print References.