Catocala piatrix
kah-TOCK-uh-lahMPEE-uh-tricks
(Grote, 1864)

The Penitent Underwing, by Dale Clark, Texas .

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>

Catocala umbrosa (Vernon Brou); Catocala piatrix (Jonathan Willey); Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana,
courtesy of Rosemary Seidler.

Identifying Catocala can be quite difficult. The specimen depicted directly above was originally sent to me or was mistakenly identified by me as Catocala amestris. Vernon Brou, who has helped me immensely over the years with Catocala identifications, corrected the determination to Catocala umbrosa. Vernon is the original describer of Catocala umbrosa, and he has been collecting Catocala in Louisiana form many many years. Very recently (September 18, 2015) I received a "correction notice" from Jonathan Willey who indicates the moth is Catocala piatrix. Of the three suggestions put forward, I favour piatrix, but will ask Vernon for a re-assessment as I revere him as the Louisiana Catocala expert. (Bill Oehlke)

DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala piatrix (wingspan: 68-84mm) flies from southern Ontario and Quebec (rare) south through New Hampshire to Tennessee to Florida and west to Texas and Arizona where it is replaced by subspecies dionyza) and Oklahoma and north to Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota. It has also been reported in Arkansas, California (probably just subspecies dionyza), Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. David Wikle has taken piatrix dionyza at Cloverdale Muni Airport, Sonoma County, California, 24 August 2003. The forewing has a light-colored band/bar extending from the subreniform spot along the am line to the costa. The fringe of the hindwing is lightly barred and is lighter in color than the deeper orange on the rest of wing. There is usually a relatively dark area between the reniform spot and the pm line and the wing veins tend to be dark and distinct in this area.

The specimen above and to the right has either just landed or is preparing for flight.

Photo courtesy of Paul Pratt from http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/ojibway/catocala.htm

Adults come in to lights and also respond to baits.

Edna Woodward sends the following image from southwestern Oregon. It appears to be Catocala piatrix dionyza and, to my knowledge, would be the first report of dionyza from Orgeon.

Catocala piatrix dionyza, Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
August 19, 2015, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, August 1, 2012, Greg Roehm.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, Tennessee, August 18, 2007, courtesy of Tom Payne.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, August 25, 2012, Marcie O'Connor.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Londonderry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, August 31, September 7, courtesy of Deb Lievens.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, September 6, 2011, courtesy of Dave Small.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Caldwell County, western North Carolina, October 24, 2009, courtesy of Aubrey Scott.

The Penitent Underwing, Catocala piatrix, Trout Valley, (McHenry County) Illinois,
August 17-26, sugar bait, courtesy of Scott Boutilier.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In northern portions of its range, Catocala piatrix flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from July to early November.

The Catocala piatrix caterpillar shows a preference for Juglans nigra (black walnut) and Juglans cinerea (butternut) and Carya (hickory).

Catocala piatrix, Devonwood, Windsor, Ontario, August 29, 2008, courtesy of Maurice Bottos. copyright.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae under surface litter.

Catocala piatrix female, Louisiana, courtesy of Vernon A. Brou.

Catocala piatrix, 72mm, Mason, Ingham County, Michigan,
bait, August 14, 1996, courtesy of Harry King.

Catocala piatrix, 72mm, (verso), Mason, Ingham County, Michigan,
bait, August 14, 1996, courtesy of Harry King.

Visit C. neogama / C. subnata / C.piatrix comparison.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala piatrix females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume. Catocala piatrix is replaced by Catocala piatrix dionyza from Arizona to California.

Catocala piatrix dionyza, Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California,
August 17, 2012, courtesy of Tim Bonebrake.

Catocala piatrix dionyza H. Edwards, 1885, courtesy of Bruce Walsh, Arizona.

Catocala piatrix dionyza, Paulden, Yavapai County, Arizona,
77mm, September 6, 2008, courtesy of Evan Rand.

Visit Catocala piatrix dionyza, Yuba City, Sutter County, California, June 14, 2013, courtesy of Joel Garcia and family.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring. Catocala piatrix dionyza fourth instar larva on walnut. Image courtesy of Ron Nelson of Gabriel Larrabee rearings.

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.

Carya Juglans cinerea..... Juglans nigra

Hickory Butternut Black walnut

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