DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala arizonae (wingspan: probably 75mm) probably flies from New Mexico to Arizona.

I have no image or information other than it is sometimes confused with junctura and babayaga, giving it a salmon underwing with an inner black band (fairly narrow and regular), terminating well before the inner margin.

Arizonae has been placed as a synonym of junctura, "Systematics of Moths in the Genus Catocala (Noctuidae). III. The Types of William H. Edwards, Augustus R. Grote and Achille Guinee", by Lawrence F. Gall and David C. Hawks, Journal of the Lepidopterists Society, Volume 56 Number 4, 9 December 2002.

The following forms and a subspecies have been described:
"roseata" Cassino, 1919, form
"sara" French, 1883, form
"arizonensis" Strand, 1914, form
subspecies augusta Henry Edwards, 1875

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala arizonae are usually on the wing from June to October.

The Catocala arizonae caterpillar shows a preference for poplars and willows.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala arizonae females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Return to Main Index