Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677
Zaleops umbrina
This record describes Zaleops umbrina (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larve - blackish with a pale mid-dorsal stripe; head pale with black reticulation (Crumb, 1956). Adult - forewing orangish-brown with dark brown bands; AM line consists of dark wedge projecting from inner margin half-way to costa; dark irregular median patch narrow at inner margin, enlarging toward costa to envelop pale reniform spot; subterminal line pale, wavy; hindwing brown with dark brown bands edged with black; outer margin wavy/scalloped. Adults have two forms: typical form........................dark form
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Zaleops
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Oak woodlands, areas with mesquite and low grasses.
Geographic Range
Arizona to central Texas (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from March to September in Texas, May to September in Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Acacia greggi (catclaw acacia) (Crumb, 1956). * usda.gov - plant information
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zaleops umbrina. 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 Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677
What is Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677?
Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 (Zaleops umbrina) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677?
Forewing length 14-16 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009). Larvae to 30 mm (Crumb, 1956)
How do you identify Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677?
Larve - blackish with a pale mid-dorsal stripe; head pale with black reticulation (Crumb, 1956). Adult - forewing orangish-brown with dark brown bands; AM line consists of dark wedge projecting from inner margin half-way to costa; dark irregular median patch narrow at inner margin, enlarging toward costa to envelop pale reniform spot; subterminal line pale, wavy; hindwing brown with dark brown bands edged with black; outer margin wavy/scalloped. Adults have two forms: typical form........................dark form
Where is Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Oak woodlands, areas with mesquite and low grasses. |
| Range | Arizona to central Texas (Powell & Opler, 2009). |
What does Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 eat?
The diet of the Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 includes Larval host is Acacia greggi (catclaw acacia) (Crumb, 1956). * usda.gov - plant information.
When is Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677 active?
Zaleops umbrina - Hodges#8677: seasonal activity - Adults fly from March to September in Texas, May to September in Arizona..