Catocala hermia francisca
kah-TOCK-uh-lahMHER-mee-uhMFRAN-sis-kuh
Henry Edwards, 1880

Catocala hermia francisca, Hampson Plate.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Noctuidae Group: Noctuinina Subfamily: Catocalinae Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala hermia francisca, (wingspan: 66-69mm), flies in California: Mendocino County, and probably other west coast counties.

The moth formerly described as C. francisca has recently (2010) been designated as a subspecies of C. hermia.

Catocala hermia francisca, Aromas, San Benito County, California,
69mm, July 27, 2012, courtesy of Gary McDonald, id by Bill Oehlke.

Catocala hermia francisca, Aromas, San Benito County, California,
69mm, July 27, 2012, courtesy of Gary McDonald, id by Bill Oehlke.

Catocala hermia francisca, Aromas, San Benito County, California,
66mm, August 9, 2012, courtesy of Gary McDonald, id by Bill Oehlke.

Catocala hermia francisca, Aromas, San Benito County, California,
66mm, August 9, 2012, courtesy of Gary McDonald, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala hermia francisca are on the wing from June to September.

Catocala hermia francisca California, All Leps Barcode of Life.

The Catocala hermia francisca caterpillar probably feeds on poplars and willows.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala hermia francisca 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.

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Catocala hermia francisca California, All Leps Barcode of Life.