Catocala epione
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmme-pee-OH-nee
(Drury, [1773]) Phalaena epione

The Epione Underwing, July 28, 2003, courtesy of Tom Murray copyright

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

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

The Catocala epione moth (wingspan: 55-65mm) flies from Quebec (rare) and Ontario south through Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and eastern Oklahoma.

Tom Middagh reports them in Minnesota.

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. Catocala epione is the same as C. marginata, Fabricius, 1775. The beautiful image of the specimen to the right was taken by John Himmelman in Connecticut, August 9, 2003. This species flies to the ground when threatened.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In northern portions of its range, Catocala epione flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from early August to early September.

In more southerly locales there may be multiple flights with moths on the wing from early June, but it is generally felt that all Catocala species are univoltine.

Catocala epione male, Neiley's Landing, Missouri,
June 1995, courtesy of Pierre Legault.

The Catocala epione caterpillar shows a preference for Carya ovata (shagbark hickory).

Moths come in to lights and to bait.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

The Epione Underwing, by Dale Clark, June 8, Texas.

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

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.

Carya ovata......

Shagbark hickory

Return to Main Index