Catocala grisatra
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm GRYE-sah-tra
Brower, 1936

The Grisatra Underwing, by Harold J. Vermes.

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:

The Catocala grisatra moth (wingspan: 48-55mm) flies in the coastal plain in Bladen County, North Carolina, south through Georgia to Florida. Specimens have also been recorded in the southeastern sandhills region of coastal North Carolina.

The forewings of this moth make it look like a miniature ulalume.

The forewings are bluish grey with a darker anal dash and wide arc from the reniform spot to the outer margin.

The median band of the hindwing does not make a complete loop. This species is uncommon and very local in its limited range.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala grisatra flies as a single generation with moths on the wing in May and June.

The Catocala grisatra caterpillar shows a preference for hawthorns.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala grisatra 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 (RG)

Return to Main Index

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae/Catocala Sites", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Enjoy one of nature's wonderments: Live Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoth) cocoons.

To show appreciation for this site, click on the flashing butterfly to the left, a link to many worldwide insect sites.