Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869
Catocala alabamae
This record describes Catocala alabamae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing of nominate subspecies has thick black AM line and dark shading in subterminal area near inner margin; subspecies titania is plainer looking, with less distinct AM line, and faint or absent shading in subterminal area; form olivia has blackish rectangular patch along inner margin; hindwing orange with two black bands, the outer band interrupted near the anal angle.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Catocalini
- Genus
- Catocala (Underwings)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, north to Missouri and Illinois. Type locality: Demopolis, Alabama (A.R. Grote). ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to August; most abundant in late May and early June in Louisiana.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on hawthorn ( Crataegus ), sweet crabapple ( Malus coronaria ), and chickasaw plum ( Prunus angustifolia ). ( 8 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the type location.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala alabamae. 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 Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869
What is Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869?
Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 (Catocala alabamae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869?
Wingspan 20-40 mm.
How do you identify Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869?
Adult - forewing of nominate subspecies has thick black AM line and dark shading in subterminal area near inner margin; subspecies titania is plainer looking, with less distinct AM line, and faint or absent shading in subterminal area; form olivia has blackish rectangular patch along inner margin; hindwing orange with two black bands, the outer band interrupted near the anal angle.
Where is Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 found?
Range: Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, north to Missouri and Illinois. Type locality: Demopolis, Alabama (A.R. Grote). ,
What does Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 eat?
The diet of the Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 includes Larvae feed on hawthorn ( Crataegus ), sweet crabapple ( Malus coronaria ), and chickasaw plum ( Prunus angustifolia ). ( 8 ).
When is Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869 active?
Alabama Underwing - Hodges#8869: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to August; most abundant in late May and early June in Louisiana..