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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Erebidae » Erebinae » Omopterini » Zale » Pine Barrens Zale - Hodges#8713 (Zale lunifera)

Species Zale lunifera - Pine Barrens Zale - Hodges#8713

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Bold-based Zale - Zale lunifera Brown Moth - Zale lunifera Mystery moth - Zale lunifera Zale lunifera? Could anyone please correct or confirm this ID? Thanks - Zale lunifera Zale intenta - Intent Zale - Zale lunifera Hodges #8713 - Pine Barrens Zale - Zale lunifera Hodges #8713 - Pine Barrens Zale - Zale lunifera Hodges #8713 - Pine Barrens Zale - Zale lunifera
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Erebinae
Tribe Omopterini
Genus Zale
Species lunifera (Pine Barrens Zale - Hodges#8713)
Hodges Number
8713
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Zale lunifera (Hübner, 1818)
Phaeocyma lunifera Hübner, 1818
Homoptera cingulifera Walker, [1858]
* phylogenetic sequence #931048
Size
Wingspan 3.7-4.5cm (Covell, 1984).(1)
Identification
Adult: Markings and coloration similar to Z. intenta, except smaller and AM line has a more pronounced medial angle. The fine black striae are less developed and thinner. Small, black orbicular spot is distinct, sharply contrasting. ST area concolourous with medial area, never contrastingly paler with strong striae.
Range
Maine to Florida, west to at least Mississippi (Wagner, 2011).
Season
Flies April-May and July-August (Covell, 1984).(1)
Food
Larvae feed on scrub oak species and blackjack (Wagner, 2011).(2)
Remarks
Z. intenta applies to the widespread species, whereas true Z. lunifera is the species with a more restricted occurrence east and south of the Appalachians (Schmidt, 2010) - photos on BugGuide may need to be reviewed and re-determined.
See Also
Zale intenta (Walker) - see Schmidt's reassessment below.
Print References
Covell Jr., C. V. 1984. A field guide to the moths of eastern North America. p.167
Crumb, S. E. 1956. The larvae of the Phalaenidae. USDA Technical Bulletin 1135: 290
Schmidt, B. Christian 2010. Taxonomic reassessment of Zale lunifera (Hübner) (Erebidae, Erebinae). ZooKeys 39: 99–106 (PDF)
Smith, John B. 1908. A revision of some species on Noctuidae heretofore referred to the genus Homoptera Boisduval. p.241 (PDF)
Wagner, D. L., D. F. Schweitzer, J. B. Sullivan & R. C. Reardon 2011. Owlet caterpillars of eastern North America. p.174
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live & pinned adults
BOLD Systems - images of pinned DNA supported specimens
Works Cited
1.Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths
Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.
2.Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America
David L. Wagner. 2011. Princeton University Press.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 3 April, 2004 - 10:04pm
Additional contributions by Nick Block, Ron M., Robert Lord Zimlich, Randy Hardy, teakh
Last updated 4 May, 2017 - 11:37am

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