Catocala of Massachusetts

**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.

** 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. 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. ** 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 umbrosa yes #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

** 8822 meskei; Meske's Underwing; wingspan: 65-75mm The forewings are less distinctly marked compared to unijuga and there is some red-orange at the hindwing apex and just inside the fringe along the outer margin in meskei that is lacking in unijuga. The forewing subreniform spot is opened or connected to the postmedian line. The hindwing postmedian band is nearly straight, turned in and tapering near the anal angle. Tim Dyson image.

** 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.

** 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.