Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012
Cryptocala acadiensis
This record describes Cryptocala acadiensis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing olive-green or various shades of brown with light gray costal border expanding downward to include reniform spot; median area grayish brown, bordered by sharply-scalloped AM and PM lines; pale subterminal area has wavy gray ST line that terminates as a blackish patch at the costa; a second blackish patch midway along costa; terminal band black hindwing bright yellow centrally with broad blackish border and yellow fringe May be locally very common in some areas (e.g. southern Quebec) or a species of special concern in other areas (e.g. Indiana).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Cryptocala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on arrowhead ( Sagittaria spp.), cherry, dock ( Rumex spp.), dogbane ( Apocynum spp.), elderberry ( Sambucus spp.), meadowsweet ( Spiraea spp.), St. Johnswort ( Hypericum spp.), and yarrow
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cryptocala acadiensis. 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 Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012
What is Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012?
Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 (Cryptocala acadiensis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012?
wingspan 25-30 mm
How do you identify Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012?
forewing olive-green or various shades of brown with light gray costal border expanding downward to include reniform spot; median area grayish brown, bordered by sharply-scalloped AM and PM lines; pale subterminal area has wavy gray ST line that terminates as a blackish patch at the costa; a second blackish patch midway along costa; terminal band black hindwing bright yellow centrally with broad blackish border and yellow fringe
Where is Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 found?
Range: coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States
What does Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 eat?
The diet of the Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 includes larvae feed on arrowhead ( Sagittaria spp.), cherry, dock ( Rumex spp.), dogbane ( Apocynum spp.), elderberry ( Sambucus spp.), meadowsweet ( Spiraea spp.), St. Johnswort ( Hypericum spp.), and yarrow.
When is Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012 active?
Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012?
one generation per year