Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347
Zanclognatha obscuripennis
This record describes Zanclognatha obscuripennis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - AM line straight across most of wing from below costa (Forbes' Key). Larvae: See Preliminary key to Zanclognatha larvae
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Zanclognatha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New York to Missouri, southward to Florida and Louisiana.
Seasonal Activity
April-June. Two Broods.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zanclognatha obscuripennis. 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 Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Will Cook , Randy Hardy , dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347
What is Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347?
Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347 (Zanclognatha obscuripennis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347?
Wingspan 22-32mm.
How do you identify Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347?
Adult - AM line straight across most of wing from below costa (Forbes' Key). Larvae: See Preliminary key to Zanclognatha larvae
Where is Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347 found?
Range: New York to Missouri, southward to Florida and Louisiana.
When is Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347 active?
Dark Zanclognatha - Hodges#8347: seasonal activity - April-June. Two Broods..