Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781
Catocala judith
This record describes Catocala judith (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote (1867) described the forewing greenish gray with fine black transverse lines. Hindwing is black with black fringe. Determined by James Adams (Dalton State University)
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
Eastern United States and Canada; uncommon in the southern states. ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates. Type locality: West Farms, [Bronx], New York (Mr. James Angus ). ( 10 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from June through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: ( 11 ) Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch (pecan). Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch (shagbark hickory). Juglans nigra L. (black walnut).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from biblical Judith (Hebrew: יְהוּדִית, feminine form of Judah), who seduced and cut off the head of Holofernes, saving Israel from the Assyrians.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala judith. 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 Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781
What is Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781?
Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 (Catocala judith) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781?
Wingspan 45-55 mm. ( 7 )
How do you identify Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781?
Grote (1867) described the forewing greenish gray with fine black transverse lines. Hindwing is black with black fringe. Determined by James Adams (Dalton State University)
Where is Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 found?
Range: Eastern United States and Canada; uncommon in the southern states. ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates. Type locality: West Farms, [Bronx], New York (Mr. James Angus ). ( 10 )
What does Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 eat?
The diet of the Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 includes Larval hosts include: ( 11 ) Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch (pecan). Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch (shagbark hickory). Juglans nigra L. (black walnut)..
When is Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781 active?
Judith's Underwing Moth - Hodges#8781: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from June through September..