Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784
Catocala obscura
This record describes Catocala obscura (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
Ontario, Quebec and Massachusetts, south to North Carolina, west to Mississippi, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. Type locality: West Farms, [Bronx], New York (Mr. Angus ). ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are hickory ( Carya glabra, Carya illinoinensis, Carya ovata ) and black walnut ( Juglans nigra ). ( 7 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "obscure, shadowy, indistinct." Strecker states, "I have seen examples in various collections for a number of years past under the name of Laehrymosa, Vidua, and Insolabilis, so to get it out of its obscurity, and as its appearance is more obscure than any of its allies, I have christened it accordingly."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala obscura. 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 Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784
How big is Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784?
Wingspan 60-72 mm. ( 7 )
Where is Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784 found?
Range: Ontario, Quebec and Massachusetts, south to North Carolina, west to Mississippi, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. Type locality: West Farms, [Bronx], New York (Mr. Angus ). ,
What does Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784 eat?
The diet of the Catocala obscura - Hodges#8784 includes Larval hosts are hickory ( Carya glabra, Carya illinoinensis, Carya ovata ) and black walnut ( Juglans nigra ). ( 7 ).