Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804
Catocala marmorata
This record describes Catocala marmorata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original Edwards (1864) description is available online in the print references below. Forewing has a dark arc extending from the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin ending just below the apex. Rare to uncommon throughout the range.
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
Vermont and South Carolina, west to Indiana and Illinois. ( 8 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Edwards' description stating "From Yreka, California" is in error. ( 9 )
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from June to December. ( 10 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant uncertain but probably poplar and willow sp. Larvae have been laboratory reared on the following: Narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "marbled."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala marmorata. 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 Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804
What is Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804?
Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 (Catocala marmorata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804?
Wingspan 85-95 mm. ( 8 )
How do you identify Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804?
The original Edwards (1864) description is available online in the print references below. Forewing has a dark arc extending from the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin ending just below the apex.
Where is Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 found?
Range: Vermont and South Carolina, west to Indiana and Illinois. ( 8 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Edwards' description stating From Yreka, California is in error. ( 9 )
What does Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 eat?
The diet of the Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 includes Larval foodplant uncertain but probably poplar and willow sp. Larvae have been laboratory reared on the following: Narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides ..
When is Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804 active?
Marbled Underwing - Hodges#8804: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from June to December. ( 10 ).