Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794
Catocala lacrymosa
This record describes Catocala lacrymosa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pattern variable, but note white crescents on inner margin of forewing. Hindwing is black with white fringe, but black near anal angle. ( 8 )
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 North America from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas. Type locality: "Amerique septentrionale." ( 9 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: ( 10 ) shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ) pecan ( Carya illinoinensis ) English walnut ( Juglans regia )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "weeping, full of tears." Form "Emilia" named in honor of Miss Emily L. Morton (1841-1920), amateur insect collector/breeder and entomological artist.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala lacrymosa. 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 Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by cotinis , Jason D. Roberts , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794
What is Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794?
Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794 (Catocala lacrymosa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794?
Wingspan 60-82 mm. ( 7 )
How do you identify Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794?
Pattern variable, but note white crescents on inner margin of forewing. Hindwing is black with white fringe, but black near anal angle. ( 8 )
Where is Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794 found?
Range: Eastern North America from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas. Type locality: Amerique septentrionale. ( 9 )
What does Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794 eat?
The diet of the Tearful Underwing - Hodges#8794 includes Larval hosts include: ( 10 ) shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ) pecan ( Carya illinoinensis ) English walnut ( Juglans regia ).