Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528
Vitacea admirandus
This record describes Vitacea admirandus (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - resembles Polistes paper wasps. This species was practically unknown before synthetic pheromones, only three specimens in major collections for the first 100 years. It is now known throughout Texas, and is exquisitely sensitive to pheromone residues on skin or clothing. Males attracted to 1:1 ratio of Z,Z,ODDA and E,Z,2,13,ODDA pheromones, but some males flew directly to the Z,Z,ODDA lure (Bordelon & Knudson, 1998).
Identification notes
Adult - resembles Polistes paper wasps.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Cossoidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tinthiinae
- Tribe
- Paranthrenini
- Genus
- Vitacea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Throughout Texas south into Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults active June though November in late afternoon and early evening (Bordelon & Knudson, 1998).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are likely grapes (Vitaceae). Knudson & Bordelon observed the adults in association with mustang grape ( Vitis mustangensis ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Admiranda is derived from Latin for "admirable/astonishing." Some (all?) records of Tirista argentifrons north of Mexico appear to be Vitacea admirandus . The type locality for T. argentifrons is southern Mexico. There are separate BINs at BOLD for these two species. They are each others closest neighbors and form a branch separate from the branch containing other species in the genus Vitacea, suggesting the possibility that admirandus might belong in the genus Tirista . Coloration of abdominal segments and a lack of pencil tufts may not separate these two species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Vitacea admirandus. 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 Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Joshua Stuart Rose , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528
What is Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528?
Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 (Vitacea admirandus) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | ♂ 25-30 mm, ♀ 34 mm. Forewing |
| Length | ♂ 9.5-15 mm (Bordelon & Knudson, 1998). |
How do you identify Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528?
Adult - resembles Polistes paper wasps.
Where is Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 found?
Range: Throughout Texas south into Mexico.
What does Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 eat?
The diet of the Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 includes Larval hosts are likely grapes (Vitaceae). Knudson & Bordelon observed the adults in association with mustang grape ( Vitis mustangensis )..
When is Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528 active?
Vitacea admirandus - Hodges#2528: seasonal activity - Adults active June though November in late afternoon and early evening (Bordelon & Knudson, 1998)..