Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887
Xylophanes pluto
This record describes Xylophanes pluto (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Xylophanes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Brazil North through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies, Florida and South Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Throughout the year in its subtropical range in the United States.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar from such flowers as Verbena . Larvae feed on Milkberry (Chiococca species), Hamelia patens, and Erythroxylon species. Also Pentas ( Alan Chin-Lee )
Life History
Life cycle images: larva; larva; larva; pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xylophanes pluto. 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 Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Alan Chin Lee; Additional contributions by cotinis , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887
How big is Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887?
Wingspan 53-65 mm
Where is Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887 found?
Range: Brazil North through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies, Florida and South Texas.
What does Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887 eat?
The diet of the Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887 includes Adults take nectar from such flowers as Verbena . Larvae feed on Milkberry (Chiococca species), Hamelia patens, and Erythroxylon species. Also Pentas ( Alan Chin-Lee ).
When is Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887 active?
Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887: seasonal activity - Throughout the year in its subtropical range in the United States..
What is the life cycle of a Pluto Sphinx - Hodges#7887?
Life cycle images: larva; larva; larva; pupa; adult