Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775
Catocala antinympha
This record describes Catocala antinympha (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - FW shiny, mostly bluish black with black lines and some brown shading, especially behinf pm line. Sometimes has a whitish subreniform spot. HW yellow/orange and black bands, mostly black at the outer fringe.
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
Habitat
Acid soil areas along the coast, rare inland.
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Maryland and Michigan.
Seasonal Activity
July-Sept.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: sweet fern ( Comptonia peregrina ). ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet perhaps as a contrast to paranympha of Linnaeus, a name misapplied by Drury and noted in Hübner's original listing. Paranymph is Greek for "bridesmaid" and antinympha is likely used to mean "unmarried, wayward" or something to that effect. Although the Greek νύμφη can also be the nymph of an insect or even a mythological nymph early authors were fond of using it to mean "wife, mistress, or young woman."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala antinympha. 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 Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775
What is Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775?
Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 (Catocala antinympha) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775?
Wingspan 45-55 mm.
How do you identify Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775?
Adult - FW shiny, mostly bluish black with black lines and some brown shading, especially behinf pm line. Sometimes has a whitish subreniform spot. HW yellow/orange and black bands, mostly black at the outer fringe.
Where is Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Acid soil areas along the coast, rare inland. |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Maryland and Michigan. |
What does Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 eat?
The diet of the Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 includes sweet fern ( Comptonia peregrina ). ( 6 ).
When is Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775 active?
Sweetfern Underwing - Hodges#8775: seasonal activity - July-Sept..