Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579
Macalla zelleri
This record describes Macalla zelleri (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Head/thorax has low longitudinal crest of raised brown scales in two parallel rows; forewing basally dark brownish-gray; black AM line nearly perpendicular to costal and inner margins, wavy, with sharply contrasting white outer edge; median area paler than basal and PM areas, whitish to pale buffy brown; PM line black, curved outward off of costa, bent basally in middle then straight or slightly sinuous to inner margin; variably medium to very dark gray beyond PM line; terminal line composed of several black dashes; hindwing brownish-gray with black dashed terminal line. Larva : Stage VI. - Head light red with pale freckles; width 2.2 mm. Body yellow, dorsal line blackish, addorsal line gray; sides black with faint white line above and more distinct one below. Venter whitish, with traces of a subcentral blackish line on thorax. Joint 2 light red; anal feet dark red. -- Dyar, H. J. 1904. Poison Ivy Caterpillars. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 12: 249-250. (google books)… Karl Hillig, 12 December, 2011
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Epipaschiinae
- Genus
- Macalla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ontario and New Jersey to Florida, west to Arizona and at least Minnesota
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August in Maryland and Ohio
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Food plants, Toxicodendron radicans - Dyar, H. J. 1904. Poison Ivy Caterpillars. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 12(4): 249–250
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macalla zelleri. 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 Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579
What is Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579?
Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 (Macalla zelleri) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579?
wingspan about 24-30 mm, based on several Internet photos
How do you identify Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579?
Adult : Head/thorax has low longitudinal crest of raised brown scales in two parallel rows; forewing basally dark brownish-gray; black AM line nearly perpendicular to costal and inner margins, wavy, with sharply contrasting white outer edge; median area paler than basal and PM areas, whitish to pale buffy brown; PM line black, curved outward off of costa, bent basally in middle then straight or slightly sinuous to inner margin; variably medium to very dark gray beyond PM line; terminal line composed of several black dashes; hindwing brownish-gray with black dashed terminal line. Larva : Stage VI. - Head light red with pale freckles; width 2.2 mm. Body yellow, dorsal line blackish, addorsal line gray; sides black with faint white line above and more distinct one below. Venter whitish, with traces of a subcentral blackish line on thorax. Joint 2 light red; anal feet dark red. -- Dyar, H. J. 1904. Poison Ivy Caterpillars. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 12: 249-250. (google books)… Karl Hillig, 12 December, 2011
Where is Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 found?
Range: Ontario and New Jersey to Florida, west to Arizona and at least Minnesota
What does Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 eat?
The diet of the Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 includes Food plants, Toxicodendron radicans - Dyar, H. J. 1904. Poison Ivy Caterpillars. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 12(4): 249–250.
When is Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579 active?
Zeller's Macalla - Hodges#5579: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August in Maryland and Ohio.