Catocala luciana
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmmlew-SEE-an-uh
Strecker, 1874

Catocala luciana, Manitoba.

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 Luciana Underwing, Catocala luciana (wingspan: 70-80mm) flies from Michigan and Ilinois through Minnesota and North Dakota to Montana, south through Colorado to Wyoming and Kansas.

Scott Shaw reports luciana is taken (not common) "on Pole Mountain, in the Medicine Bow Forest, Wyoming, about 10 miles east of Laramie near I-80 in the mountain willow bogs."

In Canada, it flies in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Luciana has a pale grey brown forewing with very distinct antemedial and postmedial lines. The basal area is grainy grey without dashes. The double am line is very dark on the outside, lighter on the inside. The median area is also a grainy grey without significant markings. The reniform spot is outlined in black. The subreniform spot has an elongated narrow "tail" that seems to open through the postmedial line. The postmedian line is very black and distinct and begins below the costa. Note the shape of the pm line just below the subreniform spot, i.e., two "close" teeth before looping back and dropping to the inner margin. The inner black band of the hindwing does not reach the inner margin. The fringe is checked and sometimes paler (almost yellow) than the salmon ground colour. There is limited dark scaling in the basal area. Image, Redcliff, Alberta, Canada, courtesy of John Acorn.

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.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala luciana 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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