Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832
Catocala cara
This record describes Catocala cara (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
Records from the eastern half of North America. ( 7 ) Type locality: vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland. ( 8 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Poplar and black willow ( Salix nigra ). ( 6 ) , ( 9 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "beloved."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala cara. 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 Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832
How big is Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832?
Wingspan 70-85 mm. ( 6 )
Where is Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832 found?
Range: Records from the eastern half of North America. ( 7 ) Type locality: vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland. ( 8 )
What does Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832 eat?
The diet of the Darling Underwing - Hodges#8832 includes Poplar and black willow ( Salix nigra ). ( 6 ) , ( 9 ).