Catocala from West Virginia

The following checklist for Ohio was sent to me by Jeff Crolla. The list was compiled in 1992 (Rings et al.). It is therefore very tentative for West Virginia (2008). I will make upgrades as data becomes available to me (Bill Oehlke). Below the list is a thumbnail pictoral checklist.

Please send images and sightings to Bill Oehlke to help improve the accuracy of this page.

* 8787 agrippina * Strecker, 1874 Agrippina Underwing

* 8834 amatrix * (Hübner, [1813]) Sweetheart Underwing

* 8878 amica * (Hubner, 1818) Girlfriend Underwing

* 8849 andromedae (Guenee, 1852) Andromeda Underwing

* 8775 antinympha * (Hübner, [1823]) Sweetfern Underwing

* 8777 badia Grote and Robinson, 1866 Bay Underwing

** 8867 Catocala blandula; Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). Fw has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi. There is also considerable brown in subterminal area and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A light area runs obliquely from the costa to the subreniform spot. hw is deep orange and has a complete inner black band. The outer black band is unbroken. Lynn Scott image.

* 8817 briseis * W.H. Edwards, 1864, Breseis Underwing

** 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.

** 8833 concumbens Sleepy Underwing or Pink Underwing, 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.

* 8877 connubialis * Guenee, 1852 Connubial Underwing

* 8772 consors (J.E. Smith, 1797) Consort Underwing; endangered

* 8858 crataegi * Saunders, 1876 Hawthorn Underwing

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.

** 8772 gracilis; Graceful Underwing, wingspan 40-45mm.

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.

* 8778 habilis * Grote, 1872 HABILIS UNDERWING

* herodias Barnes and Benjamin Gerhard's Underwing (C)

* 8840 illecta * Walker, [1858] Magdalen Underwing

** 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; Scarlet; wingspan: 57-70mm: There are usually diffuse basal and anal dashes on an otherwise light grey, mottled fw. Hw fringe is white (often with some salmon scaling) and is heavily checked. I find "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.

* 8791 insolabilis * Guenee, 1852 Inconsolable Underwing

* 8829 junctura Walker, [1858]Joined Underwing

* 8794 lacrymosa * Guenee, 1852 Tearful Underwing

* 8878.1 lineella * Grote, 1872 Little Lined Underwing

* 8788.1 luctuosa Hulst, 1884 Yellow-grey Underwing

* 8793 maestosa Hulst, 1884 Sad Underwing

* 8804 marmorata Edwards, 1864 Marbled Underwing; endangered

* 8822 meskei * Grote, 1873 Meske's Underwing

* 8876 micronympha * Guenee, 1852 Little Nymph Underwing

* 8874 minuta * Edwards, 1864 Little Underwing

* 8863 mira * Grote, 1876 Wonderful Underwing

* 8855 miranda Edwards, 1881 Miranda Underwing

* mulierculaGuenee, 1852 Little Wife Underwing (C--PL)

* 8796 nebulosa * Edwards, 1864 Clouded Underwing

* 8798 neogama * (J.E.Smith, 1797) The Bride Underwing

* 8784 obscura * TL Strecker, 1873 Obscure Underwing

* 8795 palaeogama * Guenee, 1852 Oldwife Underwing

* 8806 parta * Guenee, 1852 Mother Underwing

* 8858.1 pretiosa Lintner, 1876 Precious Underwing; endangered

*8788 retecta * Grote, 1872 Underwing Moth

* 8780 robinsoni Grote, 1872 Robinson's Underwing

* sappho Strecker, 1874 GR

* 8779 serena * Edwards, 1864 Serene Underwing

* 8873 similis * Edwards, 1864 Similar Underwing

* 8846 sordida * Grote, 1877 Sordid Underwing

* 8797 subnata * Grote, 1864 Youthful Underwing

* 8789 ulalume Strecker, 1878 Ulalume Underwing

* 8857 ultronia * (Hubner, 1823) Ultronia Underwing

* 8805 unijuga * Walker, [1858] Once-married Underwing


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

**8878 Catocala amica; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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, 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.

** 8877 connubialis, Connubial Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm). The forewing is highly variable and there are several different forms: "sancta" Hulst is the 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 the melanic form with forewings that are dark green, almost black. The hindwing has a separate anal spot and the outer band ends with a straight cut. Leroy Simon image.

** 8864 Catocala grynea ; 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; 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; 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; 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.

** 8775 antinympha; 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.

** 8772 gracilis; Graceful Underwing, wingspan 40-45mm.

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.

** 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.


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. Catocala serena courtesy of Carroll Rudy, July 28, Calumet County.

#8778 Catocala habilis; wingspan: 55-65mm
Note large "M" on thorax and "pork chop" shaped, light coloured subreniform spot that becomes very dark in its constriction at juncture with the postmedian line. The pm line is narrow but 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 a very regular dentation of subterminal line. There is always 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.

#8817 briseis; 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.

#8795 Catocala palaeogama ; 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.

Catocala palaeogama, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos.

** 8770 Catocala innubens; 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; 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.

** 8840 Catocala illecta; Magdalen Underwing, wingspan: 60-70mm
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.


Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired

andromedae 40-50

angusi

** 8781 judith, 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.

** 8782 Catocala flebilis, yes; Mournful, wingspan: 54-65mm. Diffuse black band runs from basal area to outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey subreniform spot. Reniform spot is filled with brown; there is additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash as there is in angusi. The hindwings have white fringe. J. K. Adams image.

** 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.

Catocala residua, the Residua Underwing, (wingspan: 60-73mm), yes, 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 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.

Catocala dejecta, yes, (wingspan: 56-73mm; Hodge #8790). 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.

** 8784 obscura; the Obscure Underwing, (wingspan: 60-72mm), 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, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos.

** 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.

** 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. 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.

** 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 BG, 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. BG: LaSalle: Sept.

** 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.

** 8793 Catocala maestosa WO/BG, 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. BG: LaSalle: Aug.

Catocala agrippina 75-85mm


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; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Several different forms. Pm line distinct, dark and has elongate pair of projections. Pm and am lines meet inner margin in relative proximity. Closed subreniform spot lighter than surrounding areas, shaped a bit like an arrowhead with point toward body. Hws 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.


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.

** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; wingspan: 65-82mm. Several different forms, most have characteristic white area in and around reniform spot. Diffuse dark arc running from this spot to just below apex. Subreniform spot squarish, concave inner and outer edges and elongated constriction connecting it to pml. White dots near fw om in character with the overall "contrasting" appearance.

** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form conspicua

In this form the entire reniform spot is heavily suffused with white scaling on an otherwise darker ground colour. Hence the form name "conspicua".

Tim Dyson image.

** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form satanas

In this melanic form the entire forewing, including the reniform spot is very dark. Hence the form name "satanas".

The dark basal streak is still evident on this form.

Tim Dyson image.

** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form normani

In this semi-melanic form the entire forewing, excluding the reniform spot, is relatively dark. The brownish, kidney-shaped center of the reniform spot is outlined in white.

The basal streak and subapical arc are still visible.

Tim Dyson image.

** 8771 Catocala piatrix ; Penitent, wingspan: 68-84mm. Fw: light-colored band/bar extending from light coloured, triangular subreniform spot along the am line to the costa. Brown, kidney-shaped reniform spot surrounded in pale grey, outlined in black, usually with distinct black along wing veins in a dark area outside the reniform spot.

Hw: fringe lightly barred;s lighter in color than deeper orange on 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.

** 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.

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