Little Underwing - Hodges#8874
Catocala minuta
This record describes Catocala minuta (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
Rare in the east, west to Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. ( 7 ) Lectotype: New York. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is honeylocust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) ( 9 ) , ( 7 )
Life History
Larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "little, small." Form "Hiseri" named for Mrs. O.F. Hiser , who collected the first specimens.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala minuta. 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 Underwing - Hodges#8874 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi; Additional contributions by cotinis , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Underwing - Hodges#8874
How big is Little Underwing - Hodges#8874?
Forewing length 17-19 mm. ( 7 )
Where is Little Underwing - Hodges#8874 found?
Range: Rare in the east, west to Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. ( 7 ) Lectotype: New York. ( 6 )
What does Little Underwing - Hodges#8874 eat?
The diet of the Little Underwing - Hodges#8874 includes Larval host is honeylocust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) ( 9 ) , ( 7 ).
What is the life cycle of a Little Underwing - Hodges#8874?
Larva; adult