Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556
Synanthedon viburni
This record describes Synanthedon viburni (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - body pinkish white to dark pink with reddish brown head.
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
Known from Nova Scotia, Ontario and New York south to Virginia, west to Illinois and Wisconsin. Records from Colorado. Type Location: Woodhaven, Long Island, New York.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on the cones and bore under bark of southern arrowwood ( Viburnum dentatum , Caprifoliaceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Viburni named for its host genus ( Viburnum ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon viburni. 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 Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Harsi S. Parker , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556
What is Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556?
Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556 (Synanthedon viburni) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556?
Wingspan: ♂ 16-18 mm, ♀ 18-22 mm. Larva to about 15 mm.
How do you identify Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556?
Larva - body pinkish white to dark pink with reddish brown head.
Where is Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556 found?
Range: Known from Nova Scotia, Ontario and New York south to Virginia, west to Illinois and Wisconsin. Records from Colorado. Type Location: Woodhaven, Long Island, New York.
What does Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556 eat?
The diet of the Viburnum Clearwing - Hodges#2556 includes Larvae feed on the cones and bore under bark of southern arrowwood ( Viburnum dentatum , Caprifoliaceae)..