Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876
Catocala micronympha
This record describes Catocala micronympha (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - variable forewing with distinctive PM line.
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, Texas to Manitoba eastward. Type locality: S[aint] Catherines Island, Liberty Co[unty], Georgia, USA. ( 6 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults seen July to September, May to September in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on oaks: ( 14 ) Quercus macrocarpa Quercus stellata Quercus virginiana
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet Greek prefix μικρός (micro-) and νύμφη (nympha) meaning "little bride, mistress." Can also be for insect nymph or a mythological nymph but Guenée and other early authors was in the habit of naming Catocala for the marital status of girls and women. Form "sargenti" named for Theodore D. Sargent .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala micronympha. 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 Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Jay Greenberg , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876
What is Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876?
Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 (Catocala micronympha) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876?
Wingspan 35-50 mm. ( 13 )
How do you identify Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876?
Adult - variable forewing with distinctive PM line.
Where is Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 found?
Range: Eastern North America, Texas to Manitoba eastward. Type locality: S[aint] Catherines Island, Liberty Co[unty], Georgia, USA. ( 6 )
What does Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 eat?
The diet of the Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 includes Larvae feed on oaks: ( 14 ) Quercus macrocarpa Quercus stellata Quercus virginiana.
When is Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876 active?
Little Nymph Underwing - Hodges#8876: seasonal activity - Adults seen July to September, May to September in the south..