Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717
Zale horrida
This record describes Zale horrida (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Deciduous forests
Geographic Range
Canada to Florida and Texas. ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
March to October, longer flight in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Nanyberry Viburnum lentago (Wyatt) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The German entomologist Jacob Hubner, 1761-1826, named this species. See John Himmelman's article . Himmelman quotes a friend, Eric Metzler, on the origin: Latin "horridus" (adjectival horrida) means "standing on end, sticking out, rough shaggy, bristly, prickly". Aha! So Hubner did not think this was a horrifying moth at all! horrid means "bristly" and refers to the bristles on the thorax"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zale horrida. 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 Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Jason D. Roberts , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717
How big is Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717?
Wingspan 3.5-4 cm ( 3 ) Crumb (1956) reported the larva mature to 40 mm. ( 4 )
Where is Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests |
| Range | Canada to Florida and Texas. ( 5 ) |
What does Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717 eat?
The diet of the Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717 includes Larvae feed on Nanyberry Viburnum lentago (Wyatt) ( 3 ).
When is Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717 active?
Horrid Zale - Hodges#8717: seasonal activity - March to October, longer flight in Florida..