The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774
Catocala muliercula
This record describes Catocala muliercula (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing reddish-brown, hindwing banded black and yellowish-orange. Most lines on wings black ( 6 ) .
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
Coastal Connecticut southwards through Atlantic Coastal Plain (and southwards, in Piedmont, presumably) to Texas. Type locality: "Amerique Septentrionale." ( 7 )
Seasonal Activity
May-July
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on waxmyrtle ( Myrica ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "little woman, common working girl."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala muliercula. 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 The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by cotinis , Ron M. , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774
What is The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774?
The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774 (Catocala muliercula) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774?
Wingspan 54-70 mm. ( 5 )
How do you identify The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774?
Forewing reddish-brown, hindwing banded black and yellowish-orange. Most lines on wings black ( 6 ) .
Where is The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774 found?
Range: Coastal Connecticut southwards through Atlantic Coastal Plain (and southwards, in Piedmont, presumably) to Texas. Type locality: Amerique Septentrionale. ( 7 )
When is The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774 active?
The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774: seasonal activity - May-July.
What is the life cycle of a The Little Wife Underwing - Hodges#8774?
Larvae feed on waxmyrtle ( Myrica ).