Kentucky Catocala

**8878 Catocala alabamae; Alabama Underwing; 30-40mm; yes; Uniform greenish-grey forewing may have thin but dark (contrasting) medial lines or they may be nearly absent (titania); alabamae often displays dash in median/anal angle area, missing or nearly absent in titania. Brown shading between post medial line and subterminal line. Hindwing inner black band thin, outer band thick, truncated before being followed by large black dot. Early flight season.

**8878 Catocala amica; Girlfriend; 35-40mm; GSMNP/WAM; The black postmedian band is absent from the dorsal (upper) surface of the hindwing, but it is present on the 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.

Catocala amica, Clay County, June 26-August2, Wayne A. Miller

** 8873 similis; Similar Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm; GSMNP/WAM; 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 the reniform anteriorally at a right angle to the line of the subreniform. Many specimens also have a small, light coloured, flattened oval spot about halfway between the pm and am lines at about the midpoint of the reniform spot. The pm line is almost straight for most of its length. Tim Dyson photo.

Catocala similis, Clay County, June 26, Wayne A. Miller.

** 8846 sordida; Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm; GSMNP; The forewing is lighter along the costa and darker along the inner margin. Dark medial lines are especially evident through the lighter shades near the costa. The outer black band of the hindwing is broken near the anal angle. I made the determination on the moth to the right based on dark scaling along the inner margin limited to median area and submarginal "teeth" relatively short and blunt. Tim Dyson image.

dulciola; Quiet/Sweet Underwing, wingspan: 40-45mm; A double, black, almost smooth 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.

Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group. ** 8876 Catocala micronympha, the Little Nymph Underwing, (35-50mm); GSMNP/WAM; John Himmelman image. 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. Full size Joe Garris photo of C. micronympha form hero. Catocala micronympha, Clay County, June 22 - July 16, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8877 connubialis, Connubial Underwing, (35-50mm); GSMNP/WAM; Fw highly variable; several different forms: "sancta" Hulst is typical form and has forewings with white ground colour and sharply contrasting black lines and markings. There is also brown shading between post medial and subterminal lines; "cordelia" H. Edwards is coloured as above but markings are faint; "pulverulenta" Brower has grey-green forewings with faint markings, sometimes none; "broweri" Muller is melanic form with forewings that are dark green, almost black. Hw has a separate anal spot and the outer band ends with a straight cut. Leroy Simon image. Catocala amica, Clay County, June 26-August2, Wayne A. Miller messalina, Messalina Underwing, (40-45mm); WO?; The forewing is a plain, dull, grey-green, darkening toward the outer margin. The hindwing is like that of the false underwing, having no inner black band. The outer band is quite wide. C. messalina flies in evergreen oak habitats. questionable, generally more southerly species ** 8864 Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing, (40-50mm); WO?/WAM The forewing is a 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. Catocala grynea, Clay County, June 23 - July 17, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8865 praeclara; Praeclara Underwing, (40-50mm); The forewing is a 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. ** 8867 Catocala blandula; Charming Underwing, (40-50mm); GSMNP; The pale basal area of the forewing distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). The forewing has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi. There is also considerable brown in the subterminal area and the subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A light area runs obliquely from the costa to the subreniform spot. The hindwing is deep orange and has a complete inner black band. The outer black band is unbroken. Lynn Scott image. Catocala mira; Wonderful Underwing; (40-50mm); GSMNP; Pale basal area of forewing distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). Forewing lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi and blandula. There is also considerable brown in subterminal area and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot. There is also a noticeable space along inner margin between antemedial and postmedial lines. The hindwing is deep orange and has complete inner black band. The outer black band is unbroken Tim Dyson image. ** 8858 Catocala crataegi Hawthorn Underwing; 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. There is also a definite greenish cast to median area. The lower wing has the outer black band, broken near the anal angle, distinguishing crataegi from blandula. Tim Dyson image. Catocala pretiosa Precious Underwing; 40-50mm; WO?; This species is quite similar to crataegi and mira, but pretiosa has considerable creamy white colouration in the median area. The lower portion of the basal area is also light, not dark as in crataegi. The inner black band of the hindwing forms a loop and the outer band is broken (not complete as in mira, followed by a dot that tapers to the anal angle. ** 8772 clintoni; Clinton's Underwing; 45-55mm; WO?/ WAM The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash. Vernon Brou image. Catocala clintoni, Clay County, June 23 - June 28, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8772 gracilis; Graceful Underwing, 40-45mm; GSMNP/WAM; Gracilis closely resembles sordida but the hindwing 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 the basal dash. Catocala gracilis, Clay County, July 12, Wayne A. Miller.

** 8843 whitneyi; Whitney's Underwing; 43-50mm. Catocala whitneyi is similar to abbreviatella Grote, and nuptialis Walker, but generally flies later in the season where the species overlap. The two black wedges/triangles on the forewing, one over the reniform spot and the other just outside the antemedial line, distinguish whitneyi. Gerald Fauske image.

Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm ** 8857 Catocala ultronia; Ultronia Underwing; 50-63mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM; The forewings are typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very dark inner margin and a characteristic light brown patch, underscored by a very dark arc, near the wingtip. There can be considerable variation from one specimen to the next. 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. Catocala ultronia form celia. 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. Catocala ultronia lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, June 30, 2008, courtesy of Tom Payne. Catocala ultronia, Clay County, June 23 - August 3, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8779 serena Serene Underwing. WAM. Head & collar & abdomen are brown while thorax is grey. Am & pm lines are thin, very dark, distinct on an otherwise drab, almost uniformly olive-grey fw. Black marginal band of lower wings is indented at center, relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels indentation. Basal hairs are brown. #8778 Catocala habilis; 55-65mm; WO?/WAM Note large "M" on thorax and "pork chop" shaped, light-coloured subreniform spot becoming very dark in its constriction at juncture with postmedian line. Pm line is narrow, dark and distinct. It is outwardly lined with narrow suffusion of white scales, followed by broader band of brown scales, and then another broader suffusion of white scales up to very regular dentation of subterminal line. Significant "bleeding" of yellow-orange to salmon scales into hindwing fringes. Large reniform spot has brown center, faintly edged with black, then white, then black again. Joe Garris image. Catocala habilis, Clay County, July 31 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. #8795 Catocala palaeogama ; 60-70mm; GSMNP/TP; 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. Catocala palaeogama, net captured by day, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, July 15, 2007, courtesy of Tom Payne. Catocala palaeogama, Clay County, July 5 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller ** 8770 Catocala innubens; Betrothed; 55-72mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM; The forewing is mottled with white, grey and brown, and the subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from the middle of the basal/thorax connection to just below the much lighter apex at the 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. Catocala innubens, form scintillans, lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, July 12, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala innubens, lights, Clarksville, Montgomery County, July 2, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala innubens, Clay County, July 4 - August 7, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8851 Catocala coccinata; Scarlet; 57-70mm; GSMNP/WAM; 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. "Tooth" just below pair of very elongated "teeth" is much reduced and is quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax. Reniform spot tends be to light, often with greenish cast. Joe Garris image. Catocala coccinata, Clay County, June 23- June 27, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8840 Catocala illecta; Magdalen Underwing, 60-70mm TP/WAM; The forewing pattern and colouration is much like that of concumbens, pale grey with faint black lines. Hindwings are light yellow and the irregular inner black band terminates well before the inner margin. James K. Adams image. Catocala illecta, lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, June 20, 2008, courtesy of Tom Payne. Catocala illecta, Clay County, June 24 - June 28, Wayne A. Miller.

Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired miranda, Miranda Underwing; 37-45mm; WO?/WAM; Fw is a plain pale grey with very light and fine black lines, darker and wider near the costa. The hindwing is black with white fringe at the apex, turning to grey along the outer margin. Miranda is smaller than look-alike orba and miranda also has a dark bar just above the inner margin in the median area, projecting toward the anal angle. Catocala miranda, Clay County, June 26, Wayne A. Miller. orba, Orba Underwing; 40-45mm; WO?; The forewing is a uniform grey with light lines and poorly defined spots. The hindwing underside is completely black. The hindwing fringe is unbroken and slightly off white, somewhat grey. Note absence of any dark bar in the median-subterminal area, paralleling the inner margin, near anal angle. andromedae, Gloomy Underwing; 40-50mm; GSMNP/WAM; Black hw and dark grey hw fringe, coupled with dark fw inner margin help to identify this species. Moths rest with heads pointing downwards. There is very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining subreniform spot to midpoint of am line. The "teeth" of the postmedian line are short and blunt, outwardly edged with white. The subterminal line is also outwardly edged with white. Catocala andromedae, Clay County, June 23 - July 15, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8781 judith, Judith's Underwing; 45-55mm, WO?/WAM; 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. Catocala judith, Clay County, June 25 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8782 Catocala flebilis ; Mournful, 54-65mm; TP/WAM There is a diffuse black band running from basal area to outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey subreniform spot. Reniform spot is filled with brown and there is additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash as there is in angusi. Hindwings have white fringe. J. K. Adams image. Catocala flebilis, September 20, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala flebilis, Clay County, July 5 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8773 Catocala epione ; Epione Underwing, 55-65mm; TP/WAM 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. Catocala epione, lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, June 29, 2008, Tom Payne Catocala epione, Clay County, June 21 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala residua, the Residua Underwing, 60-73mm; ; GSMNP/WAM; is distinguished from Catocala obscura by the grey hindwing fringe of residua. Catocala obscura has white to off-white fringe and tends to be less common in northern portions of its range. The forewing subterminal line/area of Catocala residua tends to be pale as is its open, elongated subreniform spot. Like C. obscura it is otherwise devoid of significant markings except for the hint of a dark bar running from the basal area through the reniform spot to the outer margin just below the apex. Catocala residua, Clay County, July 4 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala retecta; 60-75mm;; GSMNP/TP/WAM; 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. Catocala retecta, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, August 24, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala retecta, Clay County, July 5 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala luctuosa; 70mm;; WAM; Light grey (yellowish tint) fw clearly marked with basal dash continuing with another dash through am line, then another anal dash almost forming bar parallel to the im. Hw fringe white & only lightly barred at veins. The "teeth" in the forewing postmedial line are elongated and dark, continuing a dark dar emanating from the outer margin just below the apex. Catocala luctuosa, Clay County, July 5 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala atocala; WO??; Upper half of thin distinct am line runs obliquely toward anal angle, turns making two lobes to im; basal area darker grey-brown; large light brown reniform and closed subreniform spots; dark upper half median and brown subterminal areas, lighter lower half; thin, distinct pm line with two elongated upper teeth; almost white along entire im. questionable, generally more southerly species Catocala dejecta, 56-73mm; Hodge #8790; GSMNP/WAM; The Dejected Underwing is quite similar to Catocala retecta. Here the light coloured subreniform spot is also open, but it has a distinct "pork-chop" shape and separates a much darker median area below the subreniform spot from a very light area to the costa above the spot. The lower quarter of the submarginal area is also much darker in C. dejecta than in C. retecta. Catocala dejecta, Clay County, June 24 - August 4, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8784 obscura; the Obscure Underwing; 60-72mm; WO?/WAM 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 obscura, Clay County, July 4 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ulalume; Ulalume Underwing; 62-75mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM; The forewing colouration is a mottled light to dark grey with no strongly contrasting lines, dashes or bars. At the inner margin the antemedial line ends with in a very light coloured crescent. The subrenifrom spot is also light coloured and "comma" shaped. The hindwing is black and the fringe is pure white with thin, sharp (pointed) checking. Catocala ulalume, lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, July 18, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala ulalume, Clay County, July 31 - August 4, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala sappho; Sappho Underwing; 60-75mm; TP/WAM; Forewings are off white with some grey-black-brown peppering and yellow-beige lines. The reniform spot is brown and the subreniform spot is almost pure white; the hindwings are black with a white fringe. Catocala sappho, lights, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, July 26, 2008, Tom Payne Catocala sappho, Clay County, August 4 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8794 Catocala lacrymosa; Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm;; GSMNP/TP/WAM; 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. There are several different forms. Catocala lacrymosa, lights, form paulina, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, August 26, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala lacrymosa, lights, form evelina, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, September 2, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala lacrymosa, bait, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, August 20, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala lacrymosa, September 21, 2008, Tom Payne. Catocala lacrymosa, Clay County, July 16 - August 5, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8783 Catocala angusi WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; WO?/WAMDark dashes/streaks in basal area and anal area distinguish this species. Reniform spot tends to have a light brown filling. Hw fringe is black except for white region at apex. Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to om, broken only by reniform and subreniform spots. James K. Adams image. ** 8783 Catocala angusi WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas. Reniform spot: light brown filling. Hw fringe black except for white region at apex. Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to om, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots. James K. Adams image. Catocala angusi, Clay County, July 31 - August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8791 Catocala insolabilis; Inconsolable, wingspan: 65-75mm; WO?/WAM; 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. Catocala insolabilis, Clay County, July 4 - August 3, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8780 Catocala robinsoni; 70-80mm; ; TP/WAM; Fws relatively plain pale grey. 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. White fringe on hindwings; bands on ventral surface are prominent. Catocala robinsoni, Tom Payne Catocala robinsoni, Clay County, August 6, Wayne A. Miller. ** 8792 Catocala vidua; Widow; 70-80mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM; Fw ground colour is light grey. There is a distinguished dark arc running through top of reniform spot to just below apex. There are heavy, dark anal and basal dashes, connecting to a dark median bar, running parallel to inner margin. Am line is thick and black in its upper half. Reniform spot consists of two almost concentric irregular ovals. Subreniform spot is light, open, but constricted as it meets the pm line. Hw is black with broad, white fringe, only lightly interrupted. Marie Winn image. Catocala vidua, Woodlawn, Montgomery Co., Aug. 10, 07; Sept. 21, 08, Tom Payne. Catocala vidua, Clay County, August 1- August 6, Wayne A. Miller. Catocala agrippina 75-85mm; WO?; In the male, the fws are grey-black with some reddish brown (distinguishing characteristic); am and pm lines are black, darker toward costa, much lighter near inner margin. Reniform is indistinct and brown; sub-reniform is almost obsolete, but lighter than surrounding areas. Hws are black, with greyish hairs at base and im. Fringe is white, only partly cut with black at terminations of veins. ** 8793 Catocala maestosa Sad Underwing, 78-98mm; WO?/WAM; Maesotsa is quite similar to, although usually larger than, vidua. Both have the dark arc from the costa, above the reniform spot, to the outer margin just below the apex. Maesotsa, however, lacks the dark bar, found on vidua, parallel to the inner margin. The reniform spot is brown and there is brown shading just outside the postmedial line. The hindwing fringe is white, narrow and heavily barred. Catocala maestosa, Clay County, August 2 - August 3, Wayne A. Miller.

** 8803 Catocala relicta; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm; WO???/WAM; There is considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on the forewings. The form clara (depicted), has the basal and subterminal areas predominantly white; the form phrynia, is evenly dusted with grey over the entire forewing. Typical specimens have the basal and subterminal areas filled with blackish scales. The black hindwings, with a brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are also distinctive.

** 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; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM; There are several different forms. The pm line is distinct, dark and has an elongate pair of projections. The pm and am lines meet the inner margin in relative proximity. The closed subreniform spot it lighter than surrounding areas, and it is shaped a bit like an arrowhead with the point toward the body. The hindwings are distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image.

** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line. The hindwings are distinctive. Tim Dyson image.

** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. 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.