Black Zale - Hodges#8695
Zale undularis
This record describes Zale undularis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings blackish-brown to coal black with inconspicuous wavy black lines ; yellowish blotch outside upper ST line is usually the only pale mark, although some individuals show whitish shading in median area, extending to inner margin of both wings
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
Geographic Range
Minnesota and Manitoba to New Brunswick, south to Florida and Arkansas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to September; May and June in the north (Ontario)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Black Locust, Honey Locust
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zale undularis. 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 Black Zale - Hodges#8695 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Zale - Hodges#8695
What is Black Zale - Hodges#8695?
Black Zale - Hodges#8695 (Zale undularis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Black Zale - Hodges#8695?
wingspan 38-46 mm Larvae to 40 mm (Crumb, 1956)
How do you identify Black Zale - Hodges#8695?
Adult: wings blackish-brown to coal black with inconspicuous wavy black lines ; yellowish blotch outside upper ST line is usually the only pale mark, although some individuals show whitish shading in median area, extending to inner margin of both wings
Where is Black Zale - Hodges#8695 found?
Range: Minnesota and Manitoba to New Brunswick, south to Florida and Arkansas
What does Black Zale - Hodges#8695 eat?
The diet of the Black Zale - Hodges#8695 includes larvae feed on leaves of Black Locust, Honey Locust.
When is Black Zale - Hodges#8695 active?
Black Zale - Hodges#8695: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to September; May and June in the north (Ontario).