Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1
Catocala carissima
This record describes Catocala carissima (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown, often with greenish or bluish cast; AM and PM lines black, sharp, heavy near costa; conspicuous pale whitish patch at apex, and pale shading inside PM line, sometimes extending throughout median area and along costa; terminal line a series of white dots; hindwing dark pink with two broad black complete bands; fringe checkered white and black or cream and black. Once considered a subspecies of Catocala cara Guenée.
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
Wooded riparian areas.
Geographic Range
Southern United States: North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, north to Kansas; also occurs rarely up the east coast to Connecticut and New York. , , , Heppner reported Maryland to Florida, Missouri to Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to October; flight begins in January in Texas. Brou reported May to November in Louisiana. Heppner reported June to July, September to October in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner reported several larval hosts. Salix sp. (willow). Populus sp. (poplar).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "dearest, most or very beloved."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala carissima. 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 Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1
What is Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1?
Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 (Catocala carissima) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1?
Wingspan 75-95 mm.
How do you identify Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1?
Adult: forewing dark brown, often with greenish or bluish cast; AM and PM lines black, sharp, heavy near costa; conspicuous pale whitish patch at apex, and pale shading inside PM line, sometimes extending throughout median area and along costa; terminal line a series of white dots; hindwing dark pink with two broad black complete bands; fringe checkered white and black or cream and black.
Where is Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wooded riparian areas. |
| Range | Southern United States: North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, north to Kansas; also occurs rarely up the east coast to Connecticut and New York. , , , Heppner reported Maryland to Florida, Missouri to Texas. |
What does Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 eat?
The diet of the Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 includes Heppner reported several larval hosts. Salix sp. (willow). Populus sp. (poplar)..
When is Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1 active?
Carissima Underwing - Hodges#8832.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to October; flight begins in January in Texas. Brou reported May to November in Louisiana. Heppner reported June to July, September to October in Florida..