Why Study Catocalas???

The Underwing Moths (Family: Noctuidae, Subfamily: Catocalinae, Genus: Catocala), so named for their spectacularly coloured hindwings, are of interest to me for several reasons:

1) almost perfect forewing camouflage on tree bark;
2) startling take-off flight, often revealing brilliant, previously hidden hindwing colouration;
3) response to bait, adding another dimension to collection/observation;
4) diapause in egg stage on tree bark;
5) larval camouflage and habits;
6) interesting common names;
7) remarkable resemblance species to species and variability of forewing patterns within a species;
8) fall flight time for many species.

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