Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1
Zale intenta
This record describes Zale intenta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Basal area dark brown, contrasting with remainder of wing, with paler patch at base of costa • FW grayish-brown to dark brown, covered in fine, black striae (particularly developed in southern populations) • AM dark brown to black, sometimes paler brown medially; bordered distally by pale grey-brown shading • Orbicular absent or small and black • Reniform rust brown centrally with a fine black border and broader pale-tan outer border • PM fine, black and sinuate • ST area variously concolorous with PM area (usually) or paler grey-brown Zale lunifera was split into two species in 2010. The name lunifera applies to a species restricted to scrub oak barrens east and south of the Appalachians, while the common widespread species is now called Zale intenta .
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
coastal strand communities, shrubby fields, woodlands, and forest edges
Geographic Range
Distributed from Nova Scotia (Ferguson, 1954) westward to Wisconsin (Forbes, 1954) and Missouri and southward to Georgia. Likely also occurs in northern Florida (Schmidt, 2010). Canada to Florida and Texas
Seasonal Activity
flight period is from March to June depending on latitude and elevation (Schmidt, 2010)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Prunus species, including black cherry (Forbes, 1954), beach plum and willow oak
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zale intenta. 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 Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1
What is Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1?
Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 (Zale intenta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1?
forewing length 19-20mm (Schmidt, 2010) larva to 4cm
How do you identify Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1?
Adult : Basal area dark brown, contrasting with remainder of wing, with paler patch at base of costa • FW grayish-brown to dark brown, covered in fine, black striae (particularly developed in southern populations) • AM dark brown to black, sometimes paler brown medially; bordered distally by pale grey-brown shading • Orbicular absent or small and black • Reniform rust brown centrally with a fine black border and broader pale-tan outer border • PM fine, black and sinuate • ST area variously concolorous with PM area (usually) or paler grey-brown
Where is Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coastal strand communities, shrubby fields, woodlands, and forest edges |
| Range | Distributed from Nova Scotia (Ferguson, 1954) westward to Wisconsin (Forbes, 1954) and Missouri and southward to Georgia. Likely also occurs in northern Florida (Schmidt, 2010). Canada to Florida and Texas |
What does Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 eat?
The diet of the Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 includes Larvae feed on Prunus species, including black cherry (Forbes, 1954), beach plum and willow oak.
When is Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1 active?
Bold-Based Zale - Hodges#8713.1: seasonal activity - flight period is from March to June depending on latitude and elevation (Schmidt, 2010).