Catocala of Prince Edward Island

There are not too many species indigenous to Prince Edward Island so identification is easy, except in the cases of blandula and crataegi.

The following table divides all North American Catocala species into twenty one different groups. Moths are grouped according to hindwing colour bands (yellow, orange, salmon, red, pink, black or white) and wingspan measurements (small = 35-55mm, medium = 55-75 mm and large = 75mm plus).

There is some overlap regarding size. Generally if a species exceeds the upper limits of one group, I have placed it in the group with the larger span. There is also subjective interpretation of colour. What is orange to me, may be yellow or salmon to another, etc..

Wingspan refers to the distance from wing tip to wing tip when the moths are spread with the inner margin of the forewing perpendicular to the body.

Those found on Prince Edward Island are located in their respective groupings.

Although there is a historical record for Catocala amatrix, I have not seen that species on PEI.

YELLOW small: antinympha sordida medium: large:

ORANGE connubialis blandula crataegi badia coelebs semirelicta

SALMON ultronia unijuga

RED

PINK small: medium: large: concumbens

BLACK

WHITE relicta

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Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-45mm ** 8846 sordida; Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm: Fw is lighter along costa and darker along inner margin. Dark medial lines are especially evident through lighter shades near costa. Outer black band of the hindwing is broken near the anal angle. I made the determination on the moth to the left based on dark scaling along the inner margin limited to median area and submarginal "teeth" relatively short and blunt. Tim Dyson image. Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group. ** 8877 connubialis, Connubial Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm). FW is highly variable and there are several different forms: "sancta" Hulst is typical form and has forewings with white ground colour and sharply contrasting black lines and markings. There is also brown shading between pm and subterminal lines; "cordelia" H. Edwards is coloured as above but markings are faint; "pulverulenta" Brower has grey-green forewings with faint markings, sometimes none; "broweri" Muller is melanic form with fws that are dark green, almost black. Hw has separate anal spot and outer band ends with straight cut. ** 8867 Catocala blandula; Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm. Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). Fw has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi. There is also considerable brown in subterminal area and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A light area runs obliquely from the costa to the subreniform spot. hw is deep orange and has a complete inner black band. The outer black band is unbroken. Lynn Scott image. Catocala blandula, Montague, August 22, 2012, Bill Oehlke ** 8858 Catocala crataegi WO; Hawthorn Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm: Determination is based on dark (black) shading in forewing basal area continuing along inner margin to anal angle and brown shading beyond postmedial line. There is also a definite greenish cast to median area. Hw has outer black band, broken near the anal angle, distinguishing crataegi from blandula. Tim Dyson image. ** 8775 antinympha; Sweetfern Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.: The very dark grey, almost black, forewing ground colour distinguishes antinympha. There is some brown shading in the subreniform spot and also just outside the postmedial line. The hindwing is amber to pale orange. There is also the form multoconspicua Reiff, 1919 with a pale, almost white subreniform spot. Tim Dyson image. ** 8775 antinympha form multiconspicua; Sweetfern Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.: There is also the form multiconspicua Reiff, 1919 with a pale, almost white subreniform spot. Multiconspicua also has a much more contrasting forewing than the "normal" antinympha. The very dark, and extensive dark grey to black hindwing fringe is diagnostic in all forms. Steve Lemieux image. Catocala antinympha form multiconspicua, Sidney, Kennebec County, July 29, Sept. 6, Steve Lemieux ** 8776 badia coelebs; Old Maid Underwing, wingspan 54-56mm.: The gray region from the forewing pm line to the outer margin readily distinguishes this species. The fringe is gray on the lower wing from the brief orange dash at the hindwing apex to the anal angle. Tim Dyson image. maybe Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm ** 8857 Catocala ultronia; Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. Fws typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very dark inner margin and characteristic light brown patch, underscored by very dark arc, near wingtip. Underwings can be yellow to orange to salmon. ** 8857 Catocala ultronia form lucinda; Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. In form lucinda most of the forewing is bright grey. On all forms there is extensive orange-salmon colouration on hw ventral surface, and there is a dark discal lunule. Catocala ultronia, form nigrescens, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. In the melanic form nigrescens, the dorsal forewing is very dark. Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle are still visible. Dark basal hairs on hindwing. Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son. Catocala ultronia form celia. In form celia there is a wide, light grey band separating a dark region along inner margin and a dark patch near the apex. The ventral surface of forewings of all forms has a generous suffusion of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area. Catocala ultronia, Montague, August 21, 2012, Bill Oehlke Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form clara: basal and subterminal areas predominantly white. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form phrynia: evenly dusted with grey over entire forewing. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October, poplars and willows Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm ** 8821 semirelicta; Semirelict Underwing; wingspan: 65-75mm. Fw ground colour white with dark lines and shadings. Diffuse dark bar runs from center of basal area to outer margin a few mm above anal angle. Note regular dentation of st line. Inner black bar on lower wing usually terminates well before inner margin. The form "atala" has forewing that is uniformly grey. Unijuga is usually larger and has less contrasting black lines. Inner black bar on unijuga usually reaches inner margin. Tim Dyson image. historical records only ** 8806 Catocala parta ?; Mother Underwing, wingspan: 70-85mm. The black dashes in the basal, subapical and anal areas help to identify this species. The hindwings may be yellow to yellowish-orange but more often are salmon-red. Note the face-head-like markings on the thorax. In the hindwing, the first (nearest the apex) black protrusion into the white fringe is "noticeably" larger than the others. Catocala parta, Montague, August 22, 2012, Bill Oehlke ** 8805 unijuga; Once-married; wingspan: 70-90mm. Unijuga has fairly wide black inner band (almost reaching inner margin) in hindwing and very distinctive patterning in forewing. Meskei tend to have narrower band and dustier (less distinct) looking forewing. Semirelicta tend to have inner bands terminating well before i. m. Note very white fringe on fwgs and hwgs. Carroll Rudy image. Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm ** 8833 concumbens Sleepy Underwing or Pink Underwing (wingspan: 60-75mm). Brown thoracic collar quite evident in this image as is interruption in pm line by open subreniform spot. White hindwing fringe only lightly checked on wing veins. Vibrant pink bans distinct in colour and also in relatively smooth contour. Catocala concumbens, Montague, August 22, 2012, Bill Oehlke ** 8834 amatrix Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm). Very skittish, frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. Hw patterning and colouration similar to that of C. concumbens, but large size (wingspan 75-95mm) and dark bar running from basal area to just below apex distinguishes C. amatrix. See large Catocala amatrix courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. ** 8834 amatrix form selecta Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm) Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. Several forms, including selecta (to the left) which lacks dark bar on forewing. Hesseli: melanic form; pallida: very pale form. ** 8834 amatrix form hesseli Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm) Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. The melanic form hesseli is very dark and displays dark basal hairs in the hindwing.

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