Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789
Catocala ulalume
This record describes Catocala ulalume (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
Eastern United States, from Pennsylvania south to Georgia, west to Texas, Illinois and Michigan. Lectotype: [Dallas, Texas, USA].
Seasonal Activity
Flies late May to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are hickory, including shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for Edgar Allen Poe's 1847 poem Ulalume .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala ulalume. 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 Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789
How big is Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789?
Wingspan 60-75 mm. ( 3 )
Where is Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789 found?
Range: Eastern United States, from Pennsylvania south to Georgia, west to Texas, Illinois and Michigan. Lectotype: [Dallas, Texas, USA].
What does Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789 eat?
The diet of the Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789 includes Larval hosts are hickory, including shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ). ( 3 ).
When is Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789 active?
Ulalume Underwing Moth - Hodges#8789: seasonal activity - Flies late May to September.