Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825
Catocala jessica
This record describes Catocala jessica (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
California, Utah to Texas and north to Illinois. ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection locations and dates.
Seasonal Activity
Records of adults from March to April and June to October. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant is poplar and willow. ( 10 )
Life History
Fall deposited eggs overwinter to hatch in the spring.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for Jessica , Shylock's daughter in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice . Henry Edwards is known to use Shakespearean female characters when naming insects.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala jessica. 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 Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825
How big is Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825?
Wingspan: 75 mm.
Where is Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825 found?
Range: California, Utah to Texas and north to Illinois. ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection locations and dates.
What does Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825 eat?
The diet of the Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825 includes Larval foodplant is poplar and willow. ( 10 ).
When is Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825 active?
Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825: seasonal activity - Records of adults from March to April and June to October. ( 6 ).
What is the life cycle of a Jessica Underwing - Hodges#8825?
Fall deposited eggs overwinter to hatch in the spring.