Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805
Catocala unijuga
This record describes Catocala unijuga (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled pale to dark gray and white; black PM and white ST lines zigzag; orangish-red band on hindwing only slightly irregular; fringe mostly white [description by Charles Covell). Larva: dark gray with very irregular pale middorsal stripe; head with black stripes on sides, broadly connected across the vertex [description by Bill Oehlke).
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
British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Connecticut and Pennsylvania, west to Colorado and Montana. Walker's specimens: St. Martin's Falls, Albany River, Hudson's Bay (Dr. Barnston ; United States (E. Doubleday , Esq.); Canada (Dr. Barnston).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from July to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of Populus spp. (aspen, cottonwood, poplar) and willow. ( 12 )
Life History
One generation per year.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: UNIJUGA: from the Latin "unis" (one) + "jugalis" (pertaining to a yoke; matrimonial); translates to the common name [Once-married] but has no particular significance. The common names given to species of Catocala are often fanciful and arbitrary.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala unijuga. 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 Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Ron M. , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805
What is Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805?
Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 (Catocala unijuga) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805?
Wingspan 70-90 mm. ( 11 ) Larvae to 50 mm.
How do you identify Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805?
Adult: forewing mottled pale to dark gray and white; black PM and white ST lines zigzag; orangish-red band on hindwing only slightly irregular; fringe mostly white [description by Charles Covell). Larva: dark gray with very irregular pale middorsal stripe; head with black stripes on sides, broadly connected across the vertex [description by Bill Oehlke).
Where is Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 found?
Range: British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Connecticut and Pennsylvania, west to Colorado and Montana. Walker's specimens: St. Martin's Falls, Albany River, Hudson's Bay (Dr. Barnston ; United States (E. Doubleday , Esq.); Canada (Dr. Barnston).
What does Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 eat?
The diet of the Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 includes Larvae feed on leaves of Populus spp. (aspen, cottonwood, poplar) and willow. ( 12 ).
When is Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805 active?
Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805: seasonal activity - Adults fly from July to October..
What is the life cycle of a Once-married Underwing - Hodges#8805?
One generation per year.