Catocala piatrix
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmmPEE-uh-tricks
(Grote, 1864)

The Penitent Underwing, by Dale Clark, Texas .

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 piatrix moth (wingspan: 68-84mm) flies from southern Ontario and Quebec (rare) south through Tennessee to Florida and west to Texas (possibly to Arizona where it is replaced by subspecies dionyza) and Oklahoma and north to Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota. David Wikle has taken piatrix dionyza at Cloverdale Muni Airport, Sonoma County, California, 24 August 2003. The forewing has a light-colored band/bar extending from the subreniform spot along the am line to the costa. The fringe of the hindwing is lightly barred and is lighter in color than the deeper orange on the rest of wing. There is usually a relatively dark area between the reniform spot and the pm line and the wing veins tend to be dark and distinct in this area.

The specimen above and to the right has either just landed or is preparing for flight.

Photo courtesy of Paul Pratt from http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/ojibway/catocala.htm

Adults come in to lights and also respond to baits.

Visit Catocala piatrix, Woodlawn, Montgomery County, Tennessee, August 18, 2007, courtesy of Tom Payne.

The Penitent Underwing, Catocala piatrix, Trout Valley, (McHenry County) Illinois,
August 17-26, sugar bait, courtesy of Scott Boutilier.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In northern portions of its range, Catocala piatrix flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from July to early November.

The Catocala piatrix caterpillar shows a preference for Juglans nigra (black walnut) and Juglans cinerea (butternut) and Carya (hickory).

Catocala piatrix, Devonwood, Windsor, Ontario, August 29, 2008, courtesy of Maurice Bottos. copyright.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae under surface litter.

Catocala piatrix female, Louisiana, courtesy of Vernon A. Brou.

Catocala piatrix Klingerstown, Pensylvania, 10-08-1992,
male, courtesy of Pierrre Legault.

Catocala piatrix, 72mm, Mason, Ingham County, Michigan,
bait, August 14, 1996, courtesy of Harry King.

Catocala piatrix, 72mm, (verso), Mason, Ingham County, Michigan,
bait, August 14, 1996, courtesy of Harry King.

Visit C. neogama / C. subnata / C.piatrix comparison.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Catocala piatrix dionyza H. Edwards, 1885, courtesy of Bruce Walsh, Arizona.

Catocala piatrix dionyza, Paulden, Yavapai County, Arizona,
77mm, September 6, 2008, courtesy of Evan Rand.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring. Catocala piatrix dionyza fourth instar larva on walnut. Image courtesy of Ron Nelson of Gabriel Larrabee rearings.

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 Juglans cinerea..... Juglans nigra

Hickory Butternut Black walnut

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