Married Underwing - Hodges#8842
Catocala nuptialis
This record describes Catocala nuptialis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing brownish-gray with conspicuous black reniform spot shaped like a drop or comma; AM line does not widen toward middle of wing; PM line saw-toothed, indistinct; hindwing yellow to orange with thick black bands and pale terminal band.
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
Central United States: Minnesota and South Dakota to Texas, east to Illinois and Kentucky.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of leadplant ( Amorpha canescens ) ( 9 ) and possibly honeylocust and oak. ( 8 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin nuptialis meaning "marriage nuptials."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala nuptialis. 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 Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Married Underwing - Hodges#8842
What is Married Underwing - Hodges#8842?
Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 (Catocala nuptialis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Married Underwing - Hodges#8842?
Wingspan 40-50 mm. ( 8 )
How do you identify Married Underwing - Hodges#8842?
Adult - forewing brownish-gray with conspicuous black reniform spot shaped like a drop or comma; AM line does not widen toward middle of wing; PM line saw-toothed, indistinct; hindwing yellow to orange with thick black bands and pale terminal band.
Where is Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 found?
Range: Central United States: Minnesota and South Dakota to Texas, east to Illinois and Kentucky.
What does Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 eat?
The diet of the Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 includes Larvae feed on leaves of leadplant ( Amorpha canescens ) ( 9 ) and possibly honeylocust and oak. ( 8 ).
When is Married Underwing - Hodges#8842 active?
Married Underwing - Hodges#8842: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to September..