Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-50mm
| **8878 Catocala amica;
Girlfriend; wingspan: 35-40mm:
Black postmedian band is absent from dorsal (upper)
surface of hindwing, but is present on ventral surface.
Moths come in to lights and to bait.
Catocala amica lineella is sometimes treated as a subspecies;
sometimes as a distinct species.
John Himmelman image. |
| ** 8878.1
lineella;
Little Lined Underwing; wingspan: 35-40mm.
No marginal black band
on hw. Fw subreniform spot pale, boldy
outlined with black. Similar light brownish-gray patch in
upper half of median area near pm line; just between
subreniform spot and antemedian line lies similarly
coloured light patch paralleling aml.
Reniform spot dark, less distinct, in generally darker
area. Form "curvifascia" has diffuse black-brown arc from
mid costa region toward mid o. m.
|
| ** 8874 Catocala minuta;
Little Underwing; 35-45mm;
Fw generally grey-brown with greatly widened
(near costa only), white, stl.
Hw outer black band unbroken, inner band
in complete loop, considerable brown scaling along
im. Forms:
"eureka" Schwarz: blackish area between lines;
"hiseri" Cassino: dull grey fw, very faint markings;
"mellitula" Hulst: blackish basal patch from costa to
im;
"obliterata" Schwarz: melanic form, almost completely
black fw;
"parvula" W. H. Edwards: broad dark patch along fw im.
|
| ** 8873
similis;
Similar Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm.
Pale triangular patch from postmedial line along costa,
pointed at apex, and light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform
spot distinguish this species. Subreniform
spot also projects considerably beyond
reniform anteriorally at right angle to line of subreniform.
Many specimens with small, light coloured, flattened oval spot
about halfway between pm/am lines at about midpoint of
reniform spot. Pml is almost straight for most of its
length.
|
| ** 8846
sordida;
Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm.
Fw lighter along costa and darker along inner
margin. Dark medial lines are especially evident through lighter
shades near costa. Outer black band of the hindwing is broken
near anal angle.
I made the determination on the moth to the right based on
dark scaling along inner margin limited to median area
and submarginal "teeth" relatively
short and blunt.
|
| ** 8876
Catocala micronympha;
Little Nymph; wingspan 35-50mm
The usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. There is usually a darkened band passing from
the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin.
There is high variability with this species.
John Himmelman image.
|
| ** 8877
connubialis,
Connubial Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Fw highly variable with several different
forms: "sancta" typical form: fws with
white ground colour and sharply contrasting black lines and markings.
There is also brown shading between post medial and subterminal
lines; "cordelia": coloured as above but markings are
faint; "pulverulenta": grey-green forewings with faint
markings, sometimes none;
"broweri": melanic form with fws dark
green, almost black.
Hw with separate anal spot; outer band ends with
straight cut. Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8848 louiseae,
Louise's Underwing, (wingspan: 40mm).
There is a distinct white "smile" (in spread specimens) between the reniform and subreniform spots.
There is also a narrow but distinct white line immediately following the black postmedial line.
Hw deep yellow orange, outer black band interrupted,
followed by dot, ending before im. unconfirmed
|
| ** 8847
gracilis,
Graceful Underwing, (wingspan: 40-45mm).
Gracilis closely resembles sordida but hw loop is not
complete in gracilis as it is in sordida. Gracilis also tends to have
a darker inner margin and there is frequently (99% of the time,
Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris),
but not always, a basal dash. Sordida never has basal dash.
|
| Catocala pretiosa;
Precious Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Quite similar to crataegi and mira,
but pretiosa has considerable creamy white colouration in
median area. Lower portion of basal area also light, not
dark as in crataegi.
Inner black band of the hindwing forms loop and outer
band is broken (not complete as in mira, followed by dot
that tapers to anal angle.
Vernon A. Brou image. |
| Catocala mira;
Wonderful Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of fw dstinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi and
blandula.Considerable brown in subterminal area
and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown.
Light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot.
Noticeable space along inner margin between
am and pm lines.
Hw deep orange, complete inner black band.
Outer black band unbroken.
|
| ** 8858
Catocala crataegi;
Hawthorn Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
Determination is based on dark (black) shading in forewing basal
area continuing along inner margin to anal angle and brown shading
beyond postmedial line. Definite greenish cast to
median area.
Lower wing has outer black band, broken near anal angle,
distinguishing crataegi from blandula.
|
| ** 8858
Catocala blandula;
Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm:
Often difficult to distinguish blandula from crataegi and mira,
but mira lacks dark basal shading common to blandula and crataegi.
Blandula tends to differ from crataegi in that former has
1) am and pm lines that meet at inner margin,
2) brown as opposed to black basal area,
3) absence of any green shading/tint in median area,
4) unbroken outer black band in hindwing.
Lynn Scott image. |
| ** 8864 Catocala grynea;
Woody Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Fw dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along
the inner margin. The antemedial, median and postmedial lines are
quite faint.
Praeclara is somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading
between the am and pm lines. Praeclara also has a paler orange
hindwing color.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8865
praeclara; Praeclara Underwing,
wingspan: 40-50mm.
Fw pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting
brown shading beyond post medial line.
There is a black basal dash very close to the inner margin and
another dash, higher up in the median area.
Note the contrasting shapes of the reniform and subreniform spots.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8775
antinympha;
Sweetfern Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.
Very dark grey, almost black, forewing ground colour
distinguishes antinympha. Some brown shading in the
subreniform spot and also just outside the postmedial line.
The hindwing is amber to pale orange.
There is also the form multoconspicua Reiff, 1919 with a pale,
almost white subreniform spot.
Tim Dyson image.
|
| ** 8774
muliercula;
Little Wife Underwing, wingspan ??
The black bands of the hindwings tend to be very wide and there is
considerable dark scaling along the inner margins. Hw
fringe is very dark as is the general reddish-brown ground colour of the forewings.
The forewing apex is preceded along the costa by a lighter,
grey-brown patch.
Steve Walter image. maybe in southern counties
|
| ** 8776
badia coelebs;
Old Maid Underwing, wingspan 54-56mm.
Gray region from fw pm line to the outer margin readily
distinguishes this species. The fringe is gray on the lower wing from
the brief orange dash at the hindwing apex to the anal angle.
Tim Dyson image. maybe
|
| ** 8777
badia;
Bay Underwing, wingspan ??.
This species has a limited range.
The Catocala badia caterpillar shows a preference for
Comptonia peregrina (sweetfern) and
Myrica cerifera (Southern bayberry/Southern wax myrtle) and
Myrica pensylvanica (Northern bayberry).
possible in southeastern Massachusetts,
but unlikely. Steve Walter image (New York)
|
|
Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia;
Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
Fws typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very
dark inner margin and characteristic light brown patch, underscored
by very dark arc, near wingtip.
Underwings can be yellow to orange to salmon.
|
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia form lucinda;
Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In form lucinda most of the forewing
is bright grey. On all forms there is
extensive orange-salmon colouration on hw ventral surface,
and there is a dark discal lunule.
|
| Catocala ultronia,
form nigrescens, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In the melanic form nigrescens, the dorsal forewing is very dark.
Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle are still visible.
Dark basal hairs on hindwing.
Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son.
|
|
In form celia there is a wide, light grey band separating a dark region along inner margin and
a dark patch near the apex.
The ventral surface of forewings of all forms has a generous suffusion
of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area.
|
 |
** 8779 serena
Serene Underwing
The head and collar and abdomen are brown while the thorax is grey.
The am and pm lines are thin but very dark and distinct on an
otherwise drab, almost uniformly olive-grey forewing.
The black marginal band of the lower wings is indented at the center,
and the relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels this
indentation. Basal hairs are brown.
Carroll Rudy image.
|
 |
** 8850a herodias gerhardi
Gerhard's Underwing; wingspan: 55-65mm;
Fw grey and brown, lacking medial
lines. Fw veins are somewhat darkened in median
areas with white streaks from post medial line to outer
fringe, running parallel to inner margin.
Catocala herodias gerhardi has distinctive very light, almost
white, border along forewing costa.
|
| #8778
Catocala habilis;
wingspan: 55-65mm
Large "M" on thorax,
"pork chop" shaped, light coloured subreniform spot very
dark in constriction at juncture with pml. Pml narrow, dark, distinct, outwardly lined with
narrow suffusion of white scales, followed by broader band of brown
scales, then broader suffusion of white scales up to
very regular dentation of sbtml line.
Significant "bleeding" of yellow-orange-salmon scales into
hw fringes.
Large reniform spot has brown center, faintly edged in black, then
white, then black again.
|
Catocala habilis, Athol, Worcester County, August 23, 2009, Dave Small.
| #8817 briseis;
Briseis Underwing;
wingspan: 60-70mm.
Fws predominantly mottled dark-grey-brown with some lighter areas 1) between postmedial and subterminal lines, 2) at base of am and pm lines along
inner margin, and 3) over subreniform spot running diagonally toward costa.
Pm lines lack greatly elongated and sharly pointed "teeth" near apex.
Hw fringe white, unbroken; inner black band (fairly even) reaches inner margin.
Tim Dyson image. probably rare
|
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
; WO; wingspan: 60-70mm.
Subreniform spot is closed, does not approach pm line, and
is smaller than in C. habilis.
All forms have characteristic orange, heavily barred fringe to
the apex, and irregular bands on hindwings. The hw basal median
area is heavily suffused with dark brown to black scales.
There is a dark bar in outer half of median area,
paralleling the inner margin halfway between
inner margin and light, closed subreniform spot.
Joe Garris photo.
|
| #8795
Catocala palaeogama
form phalanga; wingspan: 60-70mm.
In this form, the forewing basal area and subterminal
area are very dark against a much lighter background.
The dark bar in the outer half of the
median area, paralleling the inner margin halfway between
the inner margin and the light, closed subreniform spot is especially
evident. Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens;
Betrothed; 55-72mm.
Forewing is mottled with white, grey and brown, and
subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is
sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from
middle of basal/thorax connection to just below much lighter
apex at outer margin.
Jim Vargo image. |
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens form scintillans;
Betrothed; 55-72mm.
In form scintillans most of the basal area (all but lower third) and all of the median area of the forewing is dark reddish brown.
The area outside the pm line is grey.
Vernon A Brou image. |
| ** 8851 Catocala coccinata, WO;
Scarlet; wingspan: 57-70mm
There are usually diffuse basal and anal dashes on an otherwise light
grey, mottled forewing.
Hindwing fringe is white (often with some salmon scaling) and is
heavily checked.
I find the "tooth" just below pair of very elongated "teeth" is
much reduced and is quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room
for a lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses the thorax.
Reniform spot tends be to light, often with greenish cast.
Joe Garris image.
|
|
Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired
|
Catocala andromedae,
the gloomy Underwing, (wingspan: 40-50mm).
The black underwings and dark grey fringe of the hindwings,
coupled with the dark inner margin of the forewings help to identify
this species. There is also a very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining the
subreniform spot to the midpoint of the antemedial line.
The "teeth" of the postmedian line are short and blunt,
outwardly edged with white. The subterminal line is also outwardly
edged with white.
|
| ** 8781 judith; BG;
Judith's; wingspan: 45-55mm
Judith is one of the smaller "black" underwings. The forewing is a uniform
light grey with thin and only slightly darkened antemedial, median
and postmedial lines. There are no darkened dashes (slight anal dash)
or transverse lines. The reniform area is slightly darkened while the
area just before the subterminal line is a bit lighter. Note absence of
hw white fringe.
Joe Garris photo.
|
| ** 8773
Catocala epione , yes;
Epione Underwing, wingspan: 55-65mm
The pm line is squared and has a brown band and then a light band
just outside the line. The hindwing is black with pure white fringe
with no barring.
John Himmelman image.
|
| ** 8782
Catocala flebilis ;
Mournful, wingspan: 54-65mm
There is a diffuse black band running from the basal area to the
outer margin just below the apex, interrupted by a pale grey
subreniform spot. The reniform spot is filled with brown and there is
additional brown outside the postmedial line. There is no anal dash
as there is in angusi. The hindwings have white fringe.
J. K. Adams image.
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas distinguish
this species. Reniform spot has light brown filling.
Hw fringe black except for white region at apex.
Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to
outer margin, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots.
James K. Adams image. unconfirmed
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas distinguish
this species. Reniform spot has light brown filling.
Hw fringe black except for white region at apex.
Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to
outer margin, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots.
James K. Adams image.
|
|
Catocala dejecta;
Dejected; wingspan 56-73mm. Pale grey patch
from reniform and subreniform juncture to costal margin is
diagnostic. Note open, light "pork chop" shape of subreniform spot.
Two "teeth" in pml above subreniform spot are relatively
short and blunt. Upper portion of aml thick and black;
lower half has light rounded lobes outlined in black.
Hw fringe is white with black wing veins extending
like "teeth".
|
|
Catocala retecta;
wingspan: 60-75mm
Note the light coloured, elongated and open subreniform spot
which interrupts the dark, diffuse ark running through the center of
the wing from the basal area (body-wing juncture) to the forewing
apex. The center of the reniform spot is brown and there is a brown
area just below the costa running to the inner margin just outside the pm
line. The off-white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked along the
wing veins.
Joe Garris image.
|
|
Catocala luctuosa;
wingspan: 70mm
Light grey (yellowish tint) forewing is clearly marked with
basal dash that continues with another dash through antemedial
line, followed by another anal dash almost forming a bar parallel to
inner margin. Note very light basal upper half.
Hindwing fringe is white and is only lightly barred at the veins.
The "teeth" in forewing postmedial line are elongated and dark,
continuing a dark dar emanating from outer margin just below
apex. possibly ? Jim Vargo image
|
| ** 8784
obscura;
Obscure; wingspan 60-72mm
Obscura has dull, grey forewings, usually void of any significant dashes or
streaks, providing for easy identification. The antemedial, median
and postmedial lines of obscura are faint and the subterminal line
region is only slightly paler than the rest of the forewing.
The hindwing fringe is off-white and lightly checked on the veins.
Joe Garris photo.
|
| Catocala residua,
Residua Underwing, yes, (wingspan: 58-73mm),
Distinguished from C. obscura by grey hindwing
fringe of residua.
C. obscura has white to off-white fringe, tends to be
less common in northern portions of its range. Fw
subterminal line/area of C. residua tends to be pale as
is its open, elongated subreniform spot.
Devoid of significant markings
except for hint of dark bar running from basal area
through reniform spot to om just below apex.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, wingspan: 60-82mm
The forewing is highly variable with a mixture of black, brown
(wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling.
There are usually whitish crescents, along the inner margin at the
base of the antemedial and postmedial lines.
The hindwings are black with white checkered fringe, turning black
near the anal angle.
|
| ** 8791
Catocala insolabilis;
Inconsolable, wingspan: 65-75mm
The forewing is light grey with blackish shading along the inner
margin. The antemedial and postmedial lines are thin.
The hindwing fringe is very narrow and grey, becoming whiter toward
the apex.
The ventral surface clearly distinguishes insolabis, being almost
completely black except for some white in the basal area.
Vernon A. Brou image.
|
| ** 8780
Catocala robinsoni;
wingspan: 70-80mm;
Robinson's Underwings have relatively plain pale grey forwewings.
Female has basal dash, absent in male.
Currata French, 1882, is female form, having weak basal dash.
Rare form missouriensis Schwarz, 1915, has dark, broad bar
extending from basal area to om just below
apex. Lighter grey rnfm and subrnfm spots break bar
in missouriensis, found from Pennsylvania to Florida.
All forms have white fringe on hindwings; bands on
ventral surface are prominent.
|
| ** 8792
Catocala vidua;
Widow; wingspan: 70-80mm
The ground colour of the forewing is light grey. There is a
distinguished dark arc running through the top of the reniform spot
to just below the apex. There are heavy, dark anal and basal
dashes, connecting to a dark median bar, running parallel to the inner margin.
The am line is thick and black in its upper half.
The reniform spot consists of two almost
concentric irregular ovals.
The subreniform spot is light, open, but constricted as it
meets the pm line.
The hindwing is black with broad, white fringe, only lightly
interrupted.
Marie Winn image. |
|
Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales.
Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October.
|
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Form clara: basal and subterminal
areas predominantly white.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October.
|
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Form phrynia:
evenly dusted with grey over entire forewing.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October, poplars and willows
|
| ** 8802 Catocala cerogama
BS;
Yellow-Banded; wingspan 70-80mm.
Several different forms. Pm line distinct, dark
with elongate pair of projections. Pm and am lines meet im in relative proximity. Closed subreniform spot
lighter than surrounding areas, shaped like an
arrowhead with point toward body. Hws
distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image. BS: Hampshire: October. |
|
Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
|
Form bunkeri: Forewings are dark in median and basal areas.
Hw golden band is reduced in thickness. Basal hairs are brown instead of yellow.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
|
