Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862
Catocala californiensis
This record describes Catocala californiensis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Southern California. Brower (1976) reported Holotype ♂ from ranch 2.5 mi. ssw of Valyermo, Los Angeles County, California, 10 July 1967, collected by Noel McFarland .
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is February to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Quercus cornelius-mulleri Q. turbinella
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 californiensis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862
How big is Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862?
Brower (1976) listed the wingspan. ♂ 46 mm. ♀ 47.5 mm.
Where is Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862 found?
Range: Southern California. Brower (1976) reported Holotype ♂ from ranch 2.5 mi. ssw of Valyermo, Los Angeles County, California, 10 July 1967, collected by Noel McFarland .
What does Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862 eat?
The diet of the Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862 includes Quercus cornelius-mulleri Q. turbinella.
When is Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862 active?
Catocala californiensis - Hodges#8862: seasonal activity - The main flight period is February to August..