Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806
Catocala parta
This record describes Catocala parta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing mottled light gray and darker gray or brown with whitish patches; black basal, anal, and subapical dashes usually noticeable, sometimes indistinct; subreniform spot and area basal to reniform spot form a connected whitish patch; another whitish patch usually present mid-way along subterminal area. Hindwing black and yellowish-orange or salmon-colored; medial band black, narrow, does not reach inner margin; terminal band black, broad; fringe scalloped, yellowish-orange to whitish, continuous to apex; antennae simple; sexes alike. Some individuals have a distinct face of Jesus (with a thick white moustache) on the thorax. Larva - long and slender, brown, with thin & faint dark lines along the back.
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
Habitat
Riparian habitats, treed flood plains where host plants grow; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light and bait.
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Utah, north to Alberta. Type locality: Baltimore. ( 9 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to October. Larvae from May through August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of poplar ( Populus ) and willow ( Salix ).
Life History
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "birth." Form forbesi Franclemont, 1938 named for William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes (1885-1968).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala parta. 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 Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Cindy Mead , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806
What is Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806?
Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 (Catocala parta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806?
Wingspan 70-85 mm.
How do you identify Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806?
Adult - forewing mottled light gray and darker gray or brown with whitish patches; black basal, anal, and subapical dashes usually noticeable, sometimes indistinct; subreniform spot and area basal to reniform spot form a connected whitish patch; another whitish patch usually present mid-way along subterminal area. Hindwing black and yellowish-orange or salmon-colored; medial band black, narrow, does not reach inner margin; terminal band black, broad; fringe scalloped, yellowish-orange to whitish, continuous to apex; antennae simple; sexes alike. Some individuals have a distinct face of Jesus (with a thick white moustache) on the thorax. Larva - long and slender, brown, with thin & faint dark lines along the back.
Where is Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Riparian habitats, treed flood plains where host plants grow; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light and bait. |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Utah, north to Alberta. Type locality: Baltimore. ( 9 ) |
What does Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 eat?
The diet of the Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 includes Larvae feed on leaves of poplar ( Populus ) and willow ( Salix )..
When is Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806 active?
Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to October. Larvae from May through August..
What is the life cycle of a Mother Underwing - Hodges#8806?
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.