Zale colorado - Hodges#8715
Zale colorado
This record describes Zale colorado (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See original description linked under print references below. Key characteristics include: AM line even brown band, only a little irregular outwardly; beyond AM line is a whitish/pale area merging gradually into darker outer portion of median space (male always, females sometimes); no orbicular spot; reniform spot uniformly dark brown; the forewing ST space is darker throughout, however above there is a noticeably pale section just past midway going from the inner margin to costa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Zale
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
R. Holland found the species from 4200' to 9200' in New Mexico.
Geographic Range
Colorada, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Smith included Texas
Seasonal Activity
Two broods from April to August, much more abundant from May to June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are oaks, especially Quercus gambelii .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zale colorado. 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 Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Paul Dennehy; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Zale colorado - Hodges#8715
What is Zale colorado - Hodges#8715?
Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 (Zale colorado) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Zale colorado - Hodges#8715?
Forewing length 1.7-2 cm.
How do you identify Zale colorado - Hodges#8715?
See original description linked under print references below. Key characteristics include: AM line even brown band, only a little irregular outwardly; beyond AM line is a whitish/pale area merging gradually into darker outer portion of median space (male always, females sometimes); no orbicular spot; reniform spot uniformly dark brown; the forewing ST space is darker throughout, however above there is a noticeably pale section just past midway going from the inner margin to costa.
Where is Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | R. Holland found the species from 4200' to 9200' in New Mexico. |
| Range | Colorada, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Smith included Texas |
What does Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 eat?
The diet of the Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 includes Larval hosts are oaks, especially Quercus gambelii ..
When is Zale colorado - Hodges#8715 active?
Zale colorado - Hodges#8715: seasonal activity - Two broods from April to August, much more abundant from May to June..