Catocala irene

Catocala irene

Catocala irene
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm EYE-reen
Behr, 1870

Catocala irene courtesy of David Wikle
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

DISTRIBUTION:

Irene's underwing, Catocala irene (wingspan: 65-75mm), flies in Utah and California, and probably also in Nevada and Arizona.
Dr. Wayne Whaley reports "C. irene is very common in Utah. In Utah County, Utah it can be one of our most common species in some localities, especially along the eastern flanks of Utah Lake in August. It feeds on fragile willow (Salix fragilis) and probably others. I have reared many on quaking aspen."
David Wikle reports C. irene August 11, 2003, from Bonita, San Diego County, California.

C. irene, August 6, 2001, Pinnacles National Monument,
San Benito, California, courtesy of Paul Johnson.

The darkest regions on the grey brown forewing include the upper half of the basal area and the area surrounding the reniform spot with a very indistinct arc toward the apex.
The subreniform spot is considerably lighter and seems to open into the region between the postmedial and subterminal lines.
The inner black band of the hindwings comes to a point well before reaching the inner margin. The outer band shows considerable scalloping near the anal angle.
Henry Edwards described two forms and a subspecies in 1880:
"volumnia" Hy. Edw., 1880, form
"virgilia" Hy. Edw., 1880, form
subspecies valeria Hy. Edw., 1880

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala irene flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from late July to early September.
The Catocala irene caterpillar feeds on poplar and willow.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala irene 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.

Populus.....
Salix

Poplar
Willow

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