Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849
Catocala andromedae
This record describes Catocala andromedae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing light gray with dark inner margin; very dark flying saucer shape joining subreniform spot to midpoint of AM line; PM line with short blunt teeth outwardly edged with white; ST line outwardly edged with white. Underside of forewing entirely black except unbroken white median band hindwing black with dark gray fringe and small white patch at outer angle. Mature larva - body tan, brown, or gray with longitudinal stripes; head noticeably streaked. The adult rests with its head pointing downward.
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
Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma. Lectotype: Georgia [unpublished John Abbot illustration, vol.8, plate 273, BMNH]. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on blueberry ( Vaccinium ). Also been reported on sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum , = Andromeda arborea ), blueberry, fetterbush ( Lyonia ), hickory and oak but these records are questionable. ( 9 ) , ( 10 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from the host plant ( Andromeda arborea ) identified by Guenée.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala andromedae. 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 Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Ron M. , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849
What is Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849?
Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849 (Catocala andromedae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849?
Wingspan 40-50 mm.
How do you identify Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849?
Adult - forewing light gray with dark inner margin; very dark flying saucer shape joining subreniform spot to midpoint of AM line; PM line with short blunt teeth outwardly edged with white; ST line outwardly edged with white. Underside of forewing entirely black except unbroken white median band hindwing black with dark gray fringe and small white patch at outer angle. Mature larva - body tan, brown, or gray with longitudinal stripes; head noticeably streaked.
Where is Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849 found?
Range: Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma. Lectotype: Georgia [unpublished John Abbot illustration, vol.8, plate 273, BMNH]. ( 3 )
What does Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849 eat?
The diet of the Gloomy Underwing - Hodges#8849 includes Larvae feed on blueberry ( Vaccinium ). Also been reported on sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum , = Andromeda arborea ), blueberry, fetterbush ( Lyonia ), hickory and oak but these records are questionable. ( 9 ) , ( 10 ).