Zale intenta
Encyclopedia
Zale intenta is a moth
of the Noctuidae
family. It is found from Nova Scotia
westward to Wisconsin
and Missouri
and southward to Georgia
. It probably also occurs in northern Florida
, but records may apply to Zale lunifera
. The southwestern range limit is not known.
The length of the forewings is about 19.7 mm for males and 20.1 mm for females. The flight period is from March to June depending on latitude and elevation.
The larvae feed on various Prunus
species, including black cherry, beach plum and “cherry”.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Noctuidae
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
family. It is found from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
westward to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and southward to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It probably also occurs in northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, but records may apply to Zale lunifera
Zale lunifera
The Bold-based Zale is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It occurs primarily east and south of the Appalachian Mountains, from southern Maine south to Lee Co., Mississippi and Florida. It is not known from south-eastern Virginia or South Carolina, but the species may occur in these regions...
. The southwestern range limit is not known.
The length of the forewings is about 19.7 mm for males and 20.1 mm for females. The flight period is from March to June depending on latitude and elevation.
The larvae feed on various Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
species, including black cherry, beach plum and “cherry”.