Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707
Zale metatoides
This record describes Zale metatoides (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
barens and pine woodlands
Geographic Range
at least Manitoba to Maine, south to Georgia (mountains), range in Gulf Coast uncertain
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval hosts are hard pines such as jack, pitch, red, and Virginia
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zale metatoides. 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 Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707
How big is Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707?
wingspan 3.2-4 cm larva to 40mm
Where is Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | barens and pine woodlands |
| Range | at least Manitoba to Maine, south to Georgia (mountains), range in Gulf Coast uncertain |
What does Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707 eat?
The diet of the Washed-out Zale - Hodges#8707 includes larval hosts are hard pines such as jack, pitch, red, and Virginia.