Catocala dulciola
kah-TOCK-uh-lahMdul-see-OH-luh
Grote, 1881

Catocala dulciola by Harold J. Vermes, courtesy of Craig Vermes.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Erebidae, Leach, [1815] Subfamily: Erebinae, Leach, [1815] Tribe: Catocalini, Boisduval, [1828] Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala dulciola, the Quiet or Sweet Underwing (wingspan: 40-45mm), may well be endangered through most of its range: New York through Virginia, west to Missouri and north to Illinois and Michigan.

It has also been reported in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Catocala dulciola, McGayhesville, Rockingham County, Virginia,
1am, July 15, 2013, courtesy of Kyle Warnecke.

A double black antemedial line (inner line broken only near the costa) with other lines obscure distinguishes dulciola. There is also a dark basal dash on an otherwise plain, light grey forewing. Also note the orangey-brown filler midway between the double am lines.

Catocala dulciola, courtesy of John Glaser.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala dulciola are usually on the wing in June and July.

John M. Coffman reports Catocala dulciola taken 3 mi. e Timberville, Rockingham County, Virginia, July 3, 1980.

The Catocala dulciola caterpillar feeds on hawthorn.

Catocala dulciola, Whitley County, Indiana,
June 25, 2017, courtesy of Tim Loeffler

Catocala dulciola (verso), Whitley County, Indiana,
June 25, 2017, courtesy of Tim Loeffler

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

Catocala dulciola, Whitley County, Indiana, courtesy of Tim Loeffler

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala dulciola 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.

Crataegus......

Hawthorn

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