Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773
Catocala epione
This record describes Catocala epione (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hindwings sooty black with sharp white fringes. On forewings, the outer (reniform) spot is smudged and inconspicuous, the inner (subreniform) spot elongated and teardrop-shaped with the sharp end pointed posteriorly. Fairly active; reportedly will fly to the ground when disturbed.
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 and southern Ontario south to Florida, west to Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Type locality: New York.
Seasonal Activity
Flies June through September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults can be attracted to bait. Larvae feed on hickory foliage, esp. Shagbark.
Life History
Eggs laid on tree bark. Pupates under leaf litter.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Epione was a mythological Greek healer, wife of Aesclepius, mother of Hygeia, Panacea, Machaon and several others.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala epione. 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 Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by cotinis , Joshua Stuart Rose , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773
What is Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773?
Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 (Catocala epione) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773?
Hindwings sooty black with sharp white fringes. On forewings, the outer (reniform) spot is smudged and inconspicuous, the inner (subreniform) spot elongated and teardrop-shaped with the sharp end pointed posteriorly.
Where is Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 found?
Range: Maine and southern Ontario south to Florida, west to Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Type locality: New York.
What does Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 eat?
The diet of the Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 includes Adults can be attracted to bait. Larvae feed on hickory foliage, esp. Shagbark..
When is Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773 active?
Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773: seasonal activity - Flies June through September.
What is the life cycle of a Epione Underwing - Hodges#8773?
Eggs laid on tree bark. Pupates under leaf litter.