Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847
Catocala gracilis
This record describes Catocala gracilis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - FW mottled and heavilly shaded along inner margin. Usually has a basal dash. HW inner black band on yellow forms an incomplete loop.
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
N.S. to Florida, west to Man. and Miss. common in the northeast, rarer westward.
Seasonal Activity
July to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts: ( 9 ) blueberry ( Vaccinium ) fetterbush ( Leucothoe ) oak ( Quercus )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "unadorned, slender, graceful."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala gracilis. 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 Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847
What is Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847?
Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 (Catocala gracilis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847?
Wingspan 40-45 mm. ( 8 )
How do you identify Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847?
Adult - FW mottled and heavilly shaded along inner margin. Usually has a basal dash. HW inner black band on yellow forms an incomplete loop.
Where is Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 found?
Range: N.S. to Florida, west to Man. and Miss. common in the northeast, rarer westward.
What does Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 eat?
The diet of the Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 includes Larval hosts: ( 9 ) blueberry ( Vaccinium ) fetterbush ( Leucothoe ) oak ( Quercus ).
When is Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847 active?
Graceful Underwing - Hodges#8847: seasonal activity - July to September..