Minnesota Catocala

Catocala lacrymosa, Minnesota, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

The following information (list) is taken from sightings provided by Tom Middagh (TM).

I have added two species from eastern North Dakota, courtesy of Gerald Fauskes (GF), and I (Wiliam Oehlke) have added many other species which I feel might be present (WO).

Lack of reporting for a particular county (county lists still to be developed) does not indicate the species does not fly there. Look at neighbouring counties or the entire Minnesota list to help identify a species.

I have indicated maximum and minimum known wingspans for each species and have put the different species into respective columns according to my interpretation of the hindwing colour. Framed specimens fade considerably when exposed to light. What one person sees as orange another may see as yellow! There is also some variation between live individuals.

Catocala luciana, Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
57mm, August 9, 2008, courtesy of Tom Middaugh.

Catocala luciana (verso), Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
57mm, August 9, 2008, courtesy of Tom Middaugh.

The C. luciana depicted from Nobles County at 57mm wingspan is either a runt or stated wingspan of 70-80mm is in error.

Please send sightings, preferably with images, to Bill Oehlke.

YELLOW
amica 35-40, TM
antinympha 45-55, TM
blandula 40-50, WO
nuptialis 40-50, TM
clintoni 45-55, WO
crataegi 40-50, WO
gracilis 40-45, WO
lineella WO
minuta 35-45, TM
mira 40-50, WO/TM
praeclara 40-50, WO
similis 35-45, WO
sordida 37-45, WO
whitneyi 45-50, TM

ORANGE
grynea 40-50, TM
micronympha 35-50, WO
neogama 70-85, TM
piatrix 68-84, WO
nebulosa 75-86, TM
subnata 75-90, WO








SALMON
ilia 65-82, TM
innubens 55-72, TM
luciana 70-80, WO/TM
parta 70-85, TM
ultronia 50-63, TM
unijuga 70-90, TM








RED
briseis 60-70, TM
meskei 65-75, GF
semirelicta 65-75, WO











SCARLET
amatrix 75-95, TM
coccinata 57-70, GF






PINK
cara 70-85, TM
concumbens 60-75, TM






BLACK
epione 55-65, TM
insolabilis 65-75, WO
judith 45-55, WO
lacrymosa 60-82, TM
luctuosa ?
maestosa 78-98, TM
retecta 60-75, WO
vidua 70-80, WO

SPECIAL
cerogama 70-80, TM
relicta 70-80, TM






If you have additional sightings to add to the list or high quality images of moths or larvae, please forward same to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com.

Images and/or information will be credited to photographer/source.

Here is the complete list that Tom Middagh sent me for Minnesota.

amatrix Nobles September 3, 1998
amatrix Nobles August 24, 1983
amatrix Nobles August 23, 1983
amatrix Nobles August 26, 1982
amatrix Nobles August 24, 1988
amatrix Nobles August 30, 1979
amatrix Nobles August 20, 1991
amatrix Nobles August 18, 1982
unijuga Nobles September 5, 1980
cara Nobles August 31, 1991
cara Wright September 7, 1979
cara Nobles August 24, 1983
cara Murray September 1, 1980
amatrix Nobles August 24, 1991
unijuga Nobles July 22, 1992
unijuga Nobles August 26, 1982
unijuga Nobles August 13, 1980
maestosa Nobles September 10, 1996
ilia Nobles August 7, 1992
ilia Nobles July 31, 1986
ilia Nobles July 6, 1994
briseis Sherburne August 9, 1982
epione Nobles July 6, 1994
lacrymosa? Nobles July 31, 1986
relicta Nobles September 10, 1988
relicta Nobles August 22, 1994
relicta Nobles August 23, 1994
neogama Nobles August 15, 1991
neogama Nobles August 24, 1983
nuptialis Nobles, July 20, 2008
cerogama Clearwater August 6, 1980
concumbens Clearwater August 6, 1980
parta Nobles August 22, 1991
parta Nobles August 23, 1991
parta Nobles July 20, 1980
parta Nobles September 5, 1980
parta Nobles August 19, 1982
ultronia Nobles July 30, 1992
ultronia Nobles August 7, 1998
ultronia Nobles August 1, 1982
antinympha Pine August 24, 1978
grynea Nobles August 5, 1985
grynea Nobles August 1, 1982
grynea Nobles August 16, 1980
minuta Nobles July 21, 1983
amica Jackson July 20, 1977
whitneyi Nobles July 7, 1994
innubens Nobles July 28, 1997
innubens Nobles July 30, 1985
mira Nobles July 24, 2008
luciana Nobles August 9, 2008
nebulosa Nobles August 19, 2008


Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-45mm

**8878 Catocala amica TM; Girlfriend; wingspan: 35-40mm
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.

** 8878.1 lineella WO; Little Lined Underwing; wingspan: 35-40mm. This species does not have marginal black band on hindwing. Forewing subreniform spot is pale and boldy outlined with black. There is similar light brownish-gray patch in upper half of median area near pm line, and just between subreniform spot and antemedian line there is similarly coloured light patch paralleling am lne. The reniform spot is dark, less distinct and in a generally darker area. Form "curvifascia" has diffuse black-brown arc from the mid costa region toward mid outer margin. Tim Dyson image.

** 8874 Catocala minuta TM; Little Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm. The fw is generally grey-brown with greatly widened (near costa only), white, st line. The outer black band of hw is unbroken and inner band forms complete loop with considerable brown scaling along inner margin. Several forms: "eureka" Schwarz has blackish area between am and pm lines; "hiseri" Cassino has dull grey fw with very faint markings; "mellitula" Hulst has blackish patch in basal area from costa to inner margin; "obliterata" Schwarz is melanic form, almost completely black fw; "parvula" W. H. Edwards has broad dark patch along fw inner margin. Steve Walter image.

** 8873 similis WO; Similar Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm. The pale triangular patch from the postmedial line along the costa, pointed at the apex, and the light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform spot distinguish this species. The 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.

** 8846 sordida WO; Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm.

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.


Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm
These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group.

** 8876 Catocala micronympha WO; the Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm). 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.

** 8864 Catocala grynea TM; Woody Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm

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.

** 8865 praeclara WO; Praeclara Underwing, wingspan: 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 WO; Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
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 WO; Wonderful Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
The pale basal area of the forewing distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). The forewing lacks the dark contrasting lines of crataegi and blandula. 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. There is also a noticeable space along the inner margin between the antemedial and postmedial lines. The hindwing is deep orange and has a complete inner black band. The outer black band is unbroken Tim Dyson image.

** 8858 Catocala crataegi WO; 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. 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.

** 8858 Catocala nuptialis TM; Married Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm

The reniform spot is very dark, black or almost black on an otherwise faintly marked, almost uniformly grey forewing. The outer black margin of the hindwing is unbroken, but is indented near the anal angle.

Jim Vargo image.

** 8843 whitneyi TM; Whitney's Underwing, wingspan 45-50mm.
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.

** 8775 antinympha TM; Sweetfern Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.
The very dark grey, almost black, forewing ground colour distinguishes antinympha. There is 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.

** 8772 clintoni; Clinton's Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.

The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash.

Vernon Brou image.


Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm

** 8857 Catocala ultronia TM; Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.

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.

Catocala ultronia, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.

There is extensive orange-salmon colouration on the ventral surface of the hindwings and there is a dark discal lunule.

The ventral surface of the forewings also has a generous suffusion of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area.
Joe Garris photo.

#8817 briseis TM; Briseis Underwing; wingspan: 60-70mm
The forewings are predominantly a mottled dark-grey-brown with some lighter areas 1) between the postmedial and subterminal lines, 2) at the very base of the antemedial and postmedial lines along the inner margin, and 3)over the subreniform spot running diagonally toward the costa. The postmedial lines do not have greatly elongated and sharly pointed "teeth" near the apex. The hindwing fringe is white and unbroken and the inner black band (fairly even) reaches the inner margin. Tim Dyson image.

** 8770 Catocala innubens TM; Betrothed; wingspan: 55-72mm

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.

** 8851 Catocala coccinata TM; 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

** 8781 judith WO, Judith's Underwing, (wingspan: 45-55mm), 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 TM; 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.

Catocala retecta WO; 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.

** 8794 Catocala lacrymosa TM; 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 WO; 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.

** 8792 Catocala vidua WO; 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.

** 8793 Catocala maestosa TM; Sad Underwing, wingspan: 78-98mm

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.


Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm

** 8803 Catocala relicta TM; Forsaken, White, Relict; wingspan: 70-80mm
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.

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


Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm

** 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.

** 8821 semirelicta; Semirelict Underwing; wingspan: 65-75mm
The forewing ground colour is white with dark lines and shadings. A diffuse dark bar runs from center of basal area to the outer margin a few mm above the anal angle. Note regular dentation of st line. The inner black bar on the lower wing usually terminates well before the inner margin. The form "atala" has a forewing that is uniformly grey. Unijuga is usually larger and has less contrasting black lines. The inner black bar on unijuga usually reaches the inner margin. Tim Dyson image.

** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; wingspan: 65-82mm
Catocala ilia specimens come in several different forms, but most of them have the characteristic white area in and around the reniform spot. There is also a diffuse dark arc running from this spot to just below the outer apex.
Except in worn specimens and the darkest forms, the white dots near the outer margin of the forewing are in character with the overall "contrasting" appearance of this moth.
Joe Garris image.

** 8808 luciana; Luciana Underwing, wingspan: 70-80mm
Luciana has a pale grey brown forewing with very distinct antemedial and postmedial lines. The subreniform spot has an elongated narrow "tail" that seems to open through the postmedial line. The inner black band of the hindwing does not reach the inner margin. The fringe is checked and paler (almost yellow) than the salmon ground colour.

** 8771 Catocala piatrix WO; Penitent, wingspan: 68-84mm

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.

Catocala junctura; Joined Underwing; wingspan: 67-85mm. Forewing is usually dark brownish-gray to evenly powdered blue-grey w/o significant markings. Doubled reniform spot often obscure. Thin, slightly darker am and pm lines run from costa to im and are not widely spaced at im. Hindwing is salmon or orange-pink with narrow inner black band that turns in sharply but does not meet dark-haired im, distinguishing it from unijuga. Gary Anweiler image.

** 8805 unijuga; Once-married; wingspan: 70-90mm
Catocala unijuga has a fairly wide black inner band (almost reaching inner margin) in the hindwing and very distinctive patterning in forewing. Meskei tend to have a narrower band and a dustier (less distinct) looking forewing. Semirelicta tend to have inner bands that terminate well before the inner margins.
Also note the very white fringe on both the forewings and hindwings.
Carroll Rudy image.

Catocala unijuga, Carroll Rudy, Aug 26, Calumet County.

** 8806 Catocala parta; Mother Underwing, wingspan: 70-85mm

The black dashes in the basal, subapical and anal areas help to identify this species. The hindwings may be yellow to yellowish-orange but more often are salmon-red. Note the face-head-like markings on the thorax. In the hindwing, the first (nearest the apex) black protrusion into the white fringe is "noticeably" larger than the others.

** 8798 Catocala neogama; wingspan 70-85mm
Note the brown head and thorax and larger size as compared to C. palaeogama. Neogama specimens tend to be slightly smaller than subnata, and have darker grey brown forewings with more pronounced markings. Examination of hind tibia is sometimes needed for identification. Those of neogama tend to be flattened and unevenly and sparsely spined while tibia of subnata are cylindrical with spines dense and uniform in distribution. Joe Garris photo.

** 8797 Catocala subnata; Youthful Underwing, wingspan: 75-90mm. Forewings are greyish white with blue-grey and light brown scales. Catocala subnata usually have hindwings brighter yellow than those of neogama. Neogama usually have basal dash; absent in male subnata, but present in females.
Magnification of hind tibia helps to distinguish the two species: subnata: cylindrical hind tibia; neogama: compressed or flattened hind tibia. subnata: ventral surface of tibia densely covered with evenly distributed spines; neogama: ventral surface of tibia sparsely covered with sporadic spines.

** 8796 Catocala nebulosa; Clouded; wingspan 75-86mm
Moths have a prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends to and ends at antemedial line.

Apical area also tends to be brown, much darker than median area but not as dark as basal patch. The anal angle also has the darker brown scaling.

The pm line is distinct near costa and inner margin, but becomes weak between the two. It meets inner margin in relative close proximity to am line. Closed subreniform spot is large and connects to the pm line via a thin line.


Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm

** 8833 concumbens Sleepy Underwing or Pink Underwing (wingspan: 60-75mm).

This brown thoracic collar is quite evident in this image as is the interruption in the pm line by the open subreniform spot.

The white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked on the wing veins. The vibrant pink bans are distinct in colour and also in their relatively smooth contour.

** 8832 Catocala cara; Darling; wingspan 70-85mm
Note the deep maroon almost purple cast to the forewings, mixed with a very pale green. The lower half of the am and pm lines is barely visible. There are no distinctive bars or dashes. The two upper "teeth" on the pm line are thin and long.
The hindwing bands are pink. There is heavy black checking on the off-white hindwing fringe. The relatively thick black median band of the hindwing almost reaches the inner margin which is usually heavily adorned with dark hairs.
Tim Dyson image.

** 8834 amatrix Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm)

This species is very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. The hindwing patterning and colouration are similar to that of Catocala concumbens, but the large size (wingspan 75-95mm) and the dark bar running from the basal area to just below the apex distinguishes Catocala amatrix. See large Catocala amatrix courtesy of Joan F. Rickert, Aug 30, Taylor County.

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