Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792
Catocala vidua
This record describes Catocala vidua (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale gray with black arc beginning mid-costa and running just above reniform spot to apex; upper AM and PM lines with heavy black shading; straight black streak runs parallel to inner margin from base to outer margin (streak is broken only by AM and ST lines, and may be described as a basal dash, median dash, and anal dash - all inline); reniform spot surrounded by white ring; subreniform spot with open tail connecting to PM line; hindwing black with broad white fringe.
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
Deciduous forests containing food plants; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Geographic Range
e US (TX-FL-ME-WI) / Ont. - Map (MPG) ( 9 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults mostly fly July-October (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on primarily on leaves of hickory, pecan, walnut (Juglandaceae); other hosts include oak, willow, and Black Locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ). Adults come to moth bait, so presumably feed on plant sap, etc..
Life History
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg laid on tree bark in the fall.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: vidua (L). 'widow'
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala vidua. 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 Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792
What is Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792?
Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 (Catocala vidua) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792?
Wingspan 69-85 mm.
How do you identify Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792?
Adult: forewing pale gray with black arc beginning mid-costa and running just above reniform spot to apex; upper AM and PM lines with heavy black shading; straight black streak runs parallel to inner margin from base to outer margin (streak is broken only by AM and ST lines, and may be described as a basal dash, median dash, and anal dash - all inline); reniform spot surrounded by white ring; subreniform spot with open tail connecting to PM line; hindwing black with broad white fringe.
Where is Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests containing food plants; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. |
| Range | e US (TX-FL-ME-WI) / Ont. - Map (MPG) ( 9 ) |
What does Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 eat?
The diet of the Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 includes Larvae feed on primarily on leaves of hickory, pecan, walnut (Juglandaceae); other hosts include oak, willow, and Black Locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ). Adults come to moth bait, so presumably feed on plant sap, etc...
When is Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792 active?
Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792: seasonal activity - Adults mostly fly July-October (BG data).
What is the life cycle of a Widow Underwing - Hodges#8792?
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg laid on tree bark in the fall.