Catocala consors
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm KON-sors
(J.E. Smith, 1797) Phalaena consors

The Consort Underwing, by Dale Clark.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Noctuidae Group: Noctuinina Subfamily: Catocalinae Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Catocala consors moth (wingspan: 70mm plus) flies from Maine and Connecticut south to Florida and west to Texas and eastern Oklahoma.

Rick Gillmore writes, "It is very common in Seminole, Orange and Citrus counties in central Florida. The larvae is found on hickory trees, not Amorpha fructicosa. In fact, I serious doubt that C. consors larvae feed on Amorpha fructicosa."

The forewing has irregular am and pm narrow black lines.The orange-yellow pm band tends to be narrow and irregularly zigzagged. Sometimes the band is wider and slightly less irregular.

Catocala consors is the same as C. pensacola Reiff, 1919. There is a subspecies sorsconi Barnes and Benjamin, 1924.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In northern portions of its range, Catocala consors flies as a single generation with moths on the wing gernerally starting in May.

In more southerly locales there may be multiple flights with moths on the wing from late April into July, but it is generally felt that there is a single brood annually. There is a Texas record for April 26. Catocala consors courtesy of James K. Adams, Georgia.

The Catocala consors caterpillar shows a preference for Amorpha fructicosa (Bastard indigo) questionable. Carya (hickory) is a primary host (SG).

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from .

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala consors females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring. Mature larvae Image courtesy of

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Amorpha fructicosa ....... Carya

Bastard indigo questionable Hickory

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