Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282
Syntomeida ipomoeae
This record describes Syntomeida ipomoeae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing elongate/spatula-shaped, black with 2-4 small white discal spots; hindwing much smaller, black with white basal patch; abdomen with alternating yellowish-orange and black bands Larva: body orangish with six short black tufts of hair on each abdominal segment, two long pencil-like tufts at rear of body, and four long tufts at front of body
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Syntomeida
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida and Georgia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly at least April to October (perhaps all year) in Florida
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on morning-glory ( Ipomoea spp.) and perhaps other plants in the same family (Convolvulaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Syntomeida ipomoeae. 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 Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282
What is Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282?
Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 (Syntomeida ipomoeae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282?
wingspan about 43 mm, based on photo at Harvard U.
How do you identify Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282?
Adult: forewing elongate/spatula-shaped, black with 2-4 small white discal spots; hindwing much smaller, black with white basal patch; abdomen with alternating yellowish-orange and black bands Larva: body orangish with six short black tufts of hair on each abdominal segment, two long pencil-like tufts at rear of body, and four long tufts at front of body
Where is Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 found?
Range: Florida and Georgia
What does Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 eat?
The diet of the Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 includes larvae feed on morning-glory ( Ipomoea spp.) and perhaps other plants in the same family (Convolvulaceae).
When is Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282 active?
Yellow-banded Wasp Moth - Hodges#8282: seasonal activity - adults fly at least April to October (perhaps all year) in Florida.