Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 30-45mm
| **8878 Catocala alabamae;
Alabama Underwing; 30-40mm; yes;
Uniform greenish-grey forewing may have thin but dark (contrasting) medial lines or they may be nearly absent
(titania); alabamae often displays dash in median/anal angle area, missing or nearly absent in titania.
Brown shading between post medial line and subterminal line. Hindwing inner black band thin, outer
band thick, truncated before being followed by large black dot. Early flight season.
|
| **8878 Catocala amica;
Girlfriend; wingspan: 35-40mm:
The black postmedian band is absent from the dorsal (upper)
surface of the hindwing, but it is present on the ventral surface.
Moths come in to lights and to bait.
Catocala amica lineella is now (2010) elevated to full species status as Catocala lineella.
Maurice Bottos image.
|
Catocala amica, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8878.1 lineella;
Little Lined Underwing; wingspan: 35-40mm.
This species is without hw marginal black band. Fw subreniform spot is pale and boldy
outlined with black. There is similar light brownish-gray patch in
upper half of median area near pm line, and just between
subreniform spot and am line there is similarly
coloured light patch paralleling am lne.
The reniform spot is dark, less distinct and in a generally darker
area.
|
Catocala lineella, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8874 Catocala minuta TM;
Little Underwing, 35-45mm;
Fw grey-brown, greatly widened, white, st line
(near costa only).
Hw outer black band unbroken, inner band
in complete loop, brown scaling along
im.
"eureka" Schwarz: blackish area between am,pm lines;
"hiseri" Cassino: dull grey fw, very faint markings;
"mellitula" Hulst: blackish patch in basal area from costa to
im;
"obliterata" Schwarz: melanic form, almost completely
black fw;
"parvula" W. H. Edwards: broad dark patch along fw i. m..
|
Catocala minuta, Georgetown, Scott County, June, Leroy Koehn
Catocala minuta, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8873 similis;
Similar Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm.
Pale triangular patch from pm line along costa,
pointed at apex, light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform
spot. Subreniform
spot projects much beyond
reniform anteriorally at right angle to subreniform line.
Many specimens have small, light coloured, flattened oval spot
about halfway between pm/ am lines near midpoint of
reniform spot. Pm line almost straight for most of length.
|
| ** 8846 sordida;
Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm:
Fw is lighter along costa and darker along inner
margin. Dark medial lines are especially evident through lighter
shades near costa. Outer black band of the hindwing is broken
near the anal angle.
I made the determination on the moth to the left based on
dark scaling along the inner margin limited to median area
and submarginal "teeth" relatively
short and blunt. Tim Dyson image.
|
| dulciola;
Quiet/Sweet Underwing, wingspan: 40-45mm;
A double, black, almost smooth antemedial line (inner line broken only near the costa)
with other lines obscure distinguishes dulciola.
There is also a dark basal dash on an otherwise plain, light grey
forewing.
|
Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm
These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group.
| ** 8876
form gisela:
The usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. There is usually a darkened band passing from
the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin.
Form "gisela" Meyer has a forewing that is mostly black.
Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8876
form hero:
The usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. There is usually a darkened band passing from
the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin.
Form "hero" H. Edwards has a median area that is mostly white.
Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8876
form lolita:
Form "lolita" Sargent has very dark forewings.
Harold J. Vermes image, used with permission from his son.
|
| ** 8876
form sargenti:
Usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. Usually a darkened band passing from
costa through reniform spot to outer margin.
Form "sargenti" Covell (very rare) has a hindwing that is all black.
|
Catocala micronumpha, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8877 connubialis,
Connubial Underwing, (35-50mm);
Fw highly variable; several different
forms: "sancta" Hulst: typical form, forewings with
white ground colour, sharply contrasting black lines and markings.
Brown shading between post medial and subterminal
lines; "cordelia" H. Edwards coloured as above but markings
faint; "pulverulenta" Brower: grey-green forewings with faint
markings, sometimes none;
"broweri" Muller: melanic form: forewings dark
green, almost black.
Hw has separate anal spot and outer band ends with straight cut.
|
| messalina,
Messalina Underwing, (40-45mm); WO?:
The forewing is a plain, dull, grey-green, darkening toward the outer margin.
The hindwing is like that of the false underwing, having no inner black band. The outer band is quite wide.
C. messalina flies in evergreen oak habitats. questionable, generally more southerly species
|
| ** 8864 Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing, (40-50mm);
WO?:
The forewing is a dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along
the inner margin. The antemedial, median and postmedial lines are
quite faint.
Praeclara is somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading
between the am and pm lines. Praeclara also has a paler orange
hindwing color.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8865
praeclara; Praeclara Underwing,
wingspan: 40-50mm.
Fw pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting
brown shading beyond post medial line.
There is a black basal dash very close to the inner margin and
another dash, higher up in the median area.
Note the contrasting shapes of the reniform and subreniform spots.
Upper of two larger pml teeth is longer, wider than lower tooth.
Note double, white filled amls.
Lighter, subcircular patch, outlined in black, brown on lower thorax.
|
| ** 8867 Catocala blandula;
Charming Underwing, (40-50mm);
The pale basal area of the forewing distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
The forewing has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi.
There is also considerable brown in the subterminal area
and the subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A
light area runs obliquely from the costa to the subreniform spot.
The hindwing is deep orange and has a complete inner black band.
The outer black band is unbroken.
Lynn Scott image. |
| Catocala mira;
Wonderful Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi and
blandula. Considerable brown in subterminal area
and subreniform spot very conspicuous, usually brown.
Light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot.
Noticeable space along i. m. between
antemedial and postmedial lines.
Hw deep orange and has a complete inner black band.
The outer black band is unbroken
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8858 Catocala crataegi
Hawthorn Underwing; 40-50mm;
Determination is based on dark (black) shading in forewing basal
area continuing along inner margin to anal angle and brown shading
beyond postmedial line. There is also a definite greenish cast to
median area.
The lower wing has the outer black band, broken near the anal angle,
distinguishing crataegi from blandula.
Tim Dyson image. |
| Catocala pretiosa
Precious Underwing; 40-50mm; WO?;
This species is quite similar to crataegi and mira, but pretiosa has considerable creamy white colouration in the median area. The lower
portion of the basal area is also light, not dark as in crataegi.
The inner black band of the hindwing forms a loop and the outer band is broken (not complete as in mira, followed by a dot that tapers to the anal angle.
|
| ** 8772 clintoni;
Clinton's Underwing; 45-55mm; WO?
The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and
abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash.
Vernon Brou image.
|
Catocala clintoni, Georgetown, Scott County, June, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8772 gracilis;
Graceful Underwing, 40-45mm:
Gracilis closely resembles sordida but the hindwing loop is not complete in gracilis as it is in sordida. Gracilis also tends to have a darker
inner margin and there is frequently (99% of the time, Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris), but not always, a basal dash. Sordida never has the basal dash.
|
Catocala gracilis, Georgetown, Scott County, June, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8858 Catocala nuptialis TM;
Married Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm:
The reniform spot is very dark, black or almost black on an otherwise faintly marked, almost uniformly grey forewing.
The outer black margin of the hindwing is unbroken, but is indented near the anal angle.
Jim Vargo image.
|
| ** 8843
whitneyi;
Whitney's Underwing; 43-50mm.
Catocala whitneyi is similar to abbreviatella Grote, and
nuptialis Walker, but generally flies later in the season where the species
overlap. The two black wedges/triangles on the forewing, one over the
reniform spot and the other just outside the antemedial line,
distinguish whitneyi.
Gerald Fauske image.
|
Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia;
Ultronia Underwing; 50-63mm:
The forewings are typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very
dark inner margin and a characteristic light brown patch, underscored
by a very dark arc, near the wingtip.
There can be considerable variation from one specimen to the next.
Underwings can be yellow to orange to salmon.
|
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia form lucinda;
Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In form lucinda most of the forewing
is bright grey. On all forms there is
extensive orange-salmon colouration on hw ventral surface,
and there is a dark discal lunule.
|
| Catocala ultronia,
form nigrescens, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In the melanic form nigrescens, the dorsal forewing is very dark.
Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle are still visible.
Dark basal hairs on hindwing.
Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son.
|
|
In form celia there is a wide, light grey band separating a dark region along inner margin and
a dark patch near the apex.
The ventral surface of forewings of all forms has a generous suffusion
of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area.
|
Catocala ultronia, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
 |
** 8779 serena
Serene Underwing.
Head & collar & abdomen are brown while thorax is grey.
Am & pm lines are thin, very dark, distinct on an
otherwise drab, almost uniformly olive-grey fw.
Black marginal band of lower wings is indented at center,
relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels
indentation. Basal hairs are brown.
|
| #8778 Catocala habilis;
55-65mm; WO? Note large "M" on thorax and
"pork chop" shaped, light-coloured subreniform spot becoming very
dark in its constriction at juncture with postmedian line. Pm
line is narrow, dark and distinct. It is outwardly lined with
narrow suffusion of white scales, followed by broader band of brown
scales, and then another broader suffusion of white scales up to
very regular dentation of subterminal line. Significant "bleeding"
of yellow-orange to salmon scales into
hindwing fringes.
Large reniform spot has brown center, faintly edged with black, then
white, then black again. Joe Garris image.
|
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
; wingspan: 60-70mm.
Subreniform spot closed, does not approach pm line,
is smaller than in C. habilis.
All forms have characteristic orange, heavily barred fringe to
apex, and irregular bands on hws. Hw basal median
area heavily suffused with dark brown to black scales.
Dark bar in outer half of median area,
paralleling i. m. halfway between
i. m. and light, closed subreniform spot.
Joe Garris photo.
|
Catocala palaeogama, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
form phalanga; wingspan: 60-70mm.
In this form, fw basal area and subterminal
area are very dark against a much lighter background.
Dark bar in the outer half of the
median area, paralleling the inner margin halfway between
the inner margin and the light, closed subreniform spot is especially
evident. Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens;
Betrothed; 55-72mm;
The forewing is mottled with white, grey and brown, and the
subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is
sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from the
middle of the basal/thorax connection to just below the much lighter
apex at the outer margin. |
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens form scintillans;
Betrothed; 55-72mm.
In form scintillans most of the basal area (all but lower third) and all of the median area of the forewing is dark reddish brown.
The area outside the pm line is grey.
Vernon A Brou image. |
Catocala innubens, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| Catocala delilah; 58-65;
The forewing is gray-brown with prominent black antemedial
and postmedial lines. The hindwing is yellow-orange, with a narrow
inner black band which reaches the inner margin. There is a large
yellow spot at the apex, and the fringe is faintly barred.
The underside of the wings is deep yellow with black bands.
|
| ** 8851
Catocala coccinata;
Scarlet; 57-70mm;
There are usually diffuse basal and anal dashes on an otherwise light
grey, mottled forewing.
Hindwing fringe is white (often with some salmon scaling) and is
heavily checked.
"Tooth" just below pair of very elongated "teeth" is
much reduced and is quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room
for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax.
Reniform spot tends be to light, often with greenish cast.
Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8840
Catocala illecta;
Magdalen Underwing, 60-70mm;
The forewing pattern and colouration is much like that of concumbens,
pale grey with faint black lines.
Hindwings are light yellow and the irregular inner black band
terminates well before the inner margin. James K. Adams image.
|
Catocala illecta, Georgetown, Scott County, June, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8772 Catocala consors WO;
Consort, wingspan: 70mm plus.
Fw with irregular am and pm narrow black lines. Dark patch
outside the reniform and subreniform spots.
The orange-yellow hindwing pm band tends to be narrow and
irregularly zigzagged. Sometimes the band is wider and slightly less
irregular. James K. Adams image.
|
Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired
|
miranda,
Miranda Underwing; 37-45mm;
Fw is a plain pale grey with very light and fine black lines, darker and wider near the costa. The hindwing is
black with white fringe at the apex, turning to grey along the outer margin.
Miranda is smaller than look-alike orba and miranda also has a dark bar just above the inner margin in
the median area, projecting toward the anal angle.
|
|
orba,
Orba Underwing; 40-45mm;
The forewing is a uniform grey with light lines and poorly defined spots.
The hindwing underside is completely black. The hindwing fringe is unbroken and slightly off white, somewhat grey.
Note absence of any dark bar in the median-subterminal area, paralleling the inner margin, near anal angle.
|
|
andromedae,
Gloomy Underwing; 40-50mm;
Black hw and dark grey hw fringe,
coupled with dark fw inner margin help to identify
this species. Moths rest with heads
pointing downwards.
There is very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining
subreniform spot to midpoint of am line.
The "teeth" of the postmedian line are short and blunt,
outwardly edged with white. The subterminal line is also outwardly edged with white.
|
Catocala andromedae, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8781
judith,
Judith's Underwing; 45-55mm,
One of the smaller "black" underwings. Fw: uniform
light grey with thin and only slightly darkened antemedial, median
and postmedial lines. No darkened dashes (slight anal dash)
or transverse lines. Reniform area: slightly darkened while
area just before the subterminal line is a bit lighter. Note absence of
hw white fringe.
|
Catocala judith, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8782 Catocala flebilis ;
Mournful, 54-65mm;
There is a diffuse black band running from basal area to
outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey
subreniform spot. Reniform spot is filled with brown and there is
additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash
as there is in angusi. Hindwings have white fringe. J. K. Adams image.
|
Catocala flebilis, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8773
Catocala epione ;
Epione Underwing, 55-65mm;
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.
John Himmelman image.
|
Catocala epione, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
|
Catocala residua;
Residua Underwing, (wingspan: 60-73mm),
distinguished from Catocala obscura by grey hw
fringe of residua.
Catocala obscura has white to off-white fringe and tends to be
less common in northern portions of its range. Fw
subterminal line/area of Catocala residua tends to be pale as
is its open, elongated subreniform spot.
Like C. obscura it is otherwise devoid of significant markings
except for hint of dark bar running from basal area
through reniform spot to o. m. just below apex.
|
|
Catocala retecta;
60-75mm;;
Note the light coloured, elongated and open subreniform spot
which interrupts the dark, diffuse ark running through the center of
the wing from the basal area (body-wing juncture) to the forewing
apex. The center of the reniform spot is brown and there is a brown
area just below the costa running to the inner margin just outside the pm
line. The off-white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked along the
wing veins.
|
|
Catocala luctuosa;
70mm;
Light grey (yellowish tint) fw clearly marked with basal dash continuing with another dash through am line, then another anal dash almost
forming bar parallel to the im.
Hw fringe white, only lightly barred at veins.
Fw pml "teeth": elongated and dark, continuing a dark dar emanating from outer margin just below apex.
|
| Catocala atocala,
Underwing, (wingspan: approximately 70-75mm).
Similar to agrippina, but reniform is more clearly defined in atocala. Closed subreniform of atocala
may be open or closed in agrippina. Distinct basal dash of agrippina females
is nearly absent in atocala females. Hw undersurface white areas on
agrippina are beige on atocala. Hw bulge (discal spot) on atocala, is
not present on agrippina.
|
| Catocala dejecta,
56-73mm; Hodge #8790;
Dejected Underwing: quite similar to Catocala retecta.
Here the light coloured subreniform spot is also open, but it has a
distinct "pork-chop" shape and separates a much darker median area
below the subreniform spot from a very light area to the costa
above the spot.
The lower quarter of the submarginal area is also
much darker in C. dejecta than in C. retecta.
|
Catocala dejecta, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8784
obscura;
the Obscure Underwing, (wingspan: 60-72mm),
has dull, grey forewings, usually void of any significant dashes,
streaks, providing for easy identification. Am, median
and pm lines faint and subterminal line
region is only slightly paler than rest of fw.
Hw fringe is off-white, lightly checked on veins.
Joe Garris photo.
|
|
ulalume;
Ulalume Underwing; 62-75mm;
FW: mottled light to dark grey with no strongly contrasting lines, dashes, bars.
At the inner margin the am line ends with in very light coloured crescent. Subrenifrom spot: light coloured and "comma" shaped.
Hw: black; fringe pure white with thin, sharp (pointed) checking.
|
|
Catocala sappho;
Sappho Underwing; 60-75mm;
Fws: off white with some grey-black-brown peppering and yellow-beige lines.
Reniform spot is brown and the subreniform spot is almost pure white; the hindwings are black with a white fringe.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm.
The forewing is highly variable with a mixture of black, brown
(wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling.
There are usually whitish crescents, along the inner margin at the
base of the antemedial and postmedial lines.
The hindwings are black with white checkered fringe, turning black
near the anal angle. There are several different forms.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm.
Form paulina: lighter grey post median area & area along and parallel to inner margin, in sharp contrast to
darker basal median areas.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm.
In form evelina there is a wide black band along the forewing inner margin.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm;
In form albomarginata there is an abundance of white scaling on the forewing.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm;;
Form "zelica", has black basal patch and strong black subterminal line.
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal area and anal area distinguish
this species. Reniform spot tends to have a light brown filling.
Hw fringe is black except for white region at apex.
Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to
om, broken only by reniform and subreniform spots.
James K. Adams image.
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas. Reniform spot: light brown filling.
Hw fringe black except for white region at apex.
Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to
om, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots.
James K. Adams image.
|
| ** 8791
Catocala insolabilis;
Inconsolable, wingspan: 65-75mm;
Fw: light grey with blackish shading along inner
margin. Am and pm lines are thin.
Hw fringe is very narrow and grey, becoming whiter toward
the apex.
The ventral surface clearly distinguishes insolabis, being almost
completely black except for some white in the basal area.
|
Catocala insolabilis, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| ** 8780
Catocala robinsoni;
70-80mm.
Fws relatively plain pale grey.
Female has basal dash, absent in male.
Currata French, 1882, female form: weak basal dash.
Rare form missouriensis Schwarz, 1915: dark, broad bar
extending from basal area to o.m. just below
apex. Lighter grey rnfm, subrnfm spots break bar
in missouriensis, found from PA. to FL.
Hw fringe: White; bands on ventral surface prominent.
|
| ** 8792
Catocala vidua;
Widow; 70-80mm.
Fw ground colour light grey.
Distinguishing dark arc runs through top of reniform spot
to just below apex. Heavy, dark anal and basal
dashes, connecting to dark median bar, running parallel to i. m.
Am line thick, black in its upper half.
Reniform spot with two almost
concentric irregular ovals.
Subreniform spot light, open, constricted as it
meets pm line.
Hw black with broad, white fringe, lightly
interrupted.
Marie Winn image. |
|
Catocala agrippina
75-85mm;
In the male, the fws are grey-black with some
reddish brown (distinguishing characteristic); am and pm lines are black, darker toward costa, much lighter near inner margin.
Reniform is indistinct and brown; sub-reniform is almost obsolete, but lighter than surrounding areas.
Hws are black, with greyish hairs at base and im. Fringe is white, only partly cut with black at
terminations of veins.
|
| ** 8793
Catocala maestosa
Sad Underwing, 78-98mm;
Maesotsa is quite similar to, although usually larger than, vidua.
Both have the dark arc from the costa, above the reniform spot, to
the outer margin just below the apex. Maesotsa, however, lacks the
dark bar, found on vidua, parallel to the inner margin.
The reniform spot is brown and there is brown shading just outside
the postmedial line.
The hindwing fringe is white, narrow and heavily barred.
|
Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm;
There is considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on the forewings.
The form clara (depicted), has the basal and subterminal
areas predominantly white; the form phrynia, is
evenly dusted with grey over the entire forewing.
Typical specimens have the basal and subterminal areas filled with
blackish scales. The black hindwings, with a brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe,
are also distinctive.
|
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales.
Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October.
|
|
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Form clara: basal and subterminal
areas predominantly white.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October.
|
| ** 8803 Catocala relicta
;
Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm:
Considerable variation with regard to black/white
concentrations on fws.
Form phrynia:
evenly dusted with grey over entire forewing.
Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with
blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and
white fringe, are distinctive. June until October, poplars and willows
|
| ** 8802 Catocala cerogama;
Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM;
There are several different forms. The pm line is distinct, dark
and has an elongate pair of projections. The pm and am lines meet the inner
margin in relative proximity. The closed subreniform spot
it lighter than surrounding areas, and it is shaped a bit like an
arrowhead with the point toward the body. The hindwings are
distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image. |
|
Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
|
Form bunkeri: Forewings are dark in median and basal areas.
Hw golden band is reduced in thickness. Basal hairs are brown instead of yellow.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm
| ** 8801
Catocala ilia; Ilia;
65-82mm; GSMNP/TP/WAM;
Catocala ilia specimens come in several different forms.
Most have characteristic white area in and around
reniform spot. There is also a diffuse dark arc running from this
spot to just below apex.
Except in worn specimens and darkest forms,
the white dots near the outer margin of forewing are in character
with the overall "contrasting" appearance of this moth.
Joe Garris image.
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| ** 8801
Catocala ilia; Ilia;
form conspicua
In this form the entire reniform spot is heavily suffused with white scaling on
an otherwise darker ground colour. Hence the form name "conspicua".
Tim Dyson image.
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| ** 8801
Catocala ilia; Ilia;
form satanas
In this melanic form the entire forewing, including the reniform spot is very dark. Hence the form name "satanas".
The dark basal streak is still evident on this form.
Tim Dyson image.
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| ** 8801
Catocala ilia; Ilia;
form normani
In this semi-melanic form the entire forewing, excluding the reniform spot, is relatively dark.
The brownish, kidney-shaped center of the reniform spot is outlined in white.
The basal streak and subapical arc are still visible.
Tim Dyson image.
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Catocala ilia, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
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Catocala consors; Consort Underwing;
70+mm;
Fw:s irregular am and
pm narrow black lines. Orange-yellow pm band tends to be narrow, irregularly
zigzagged. Sometimes band is wider and slightly less irregular.
Catocala consors is same as C. pensacola Reiff, 1919.
There is a subspecies sorsconi Barnes and Benjamin, 1924.
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Catocala muliercula; Little Wife Underwing;
???; Dark, distinct upper half am line runs obliquely toward anal angle, turns in two lobes to im;
basal area dark brown; inner brown kidney shaped reniform spot, oulined in black then light then black again; open, lighter subreniform spot
with light area from it to costa; median area greyish-blue-brown; subterminal area brown; terminal area greyish-blue-brown; lighter patch at apex.
Hindwing dark bands thick, much dark scaling in basal area covering two thirds of that region, joining inner black band to inner margin.
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| ** 8771 Catocala piatrix ;
Penitent, wingspan: 68-84mm.
Fw: light-colored band/bar extending from light coloured, triangular
subreniform spot along am line to costa. Brown, kidney-shaped reniform spot surrounded in pale grey, outlined in black,
usually with distinct black along wing veins in a dark area outside the reniform spot.
Hw: fringe lightly barred; lighter in color
than deeper orange on rest of wing.
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| Catocala junctura;
Joined Underwing; 67-85mm.
Fw is usually dark brownish-gray to evenly powdered
blue-grey w/o significant markings. Doubled reniform spot
often obscure. Thin, slightly darker am and pm
lines run from costa to im, not widely
spaced at im. Hw salmon/ orange-pink, narrow inner black band
turns in sharply, does not meet dark-haired im.
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| ** 8806 Catocala parta;
Mother Underwing, wingspan: 70-85mm.
The black dashes in the basal, subapical and anal areas help to
identify this species. The hindwings may be yellow to
yellowish-orange but more often are salmon-red. Note the
face-head-like markings on the thorax.
In the hindwing, the first (nearest the apex) black protrusion into
the white fringe is "noticeably" larger than the others.
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| ** 8805 unijuga;
Once-married; wingspan: 70-90mm: Catocala unijuga has a
fairly wide black inner band (almost reaching inner margin) in
hindwing and very distinctive patterning in forewing. Meskei tend to
have narrower band and dustier (less distinct) looking forewing.
Semirelicta tend to have inner bands that terminate well before
inner margins.
Also note the very white fringe on both the forewings and hindwings.
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| ** 8798 Catocala neogama;
wingspan 70-85mm.
Brown head, thorax, larger size as compared to
C. palaeogama. Neogama tend to be slightly smaller
than subnata, have darker grey brown fws with more
pronounced markings. Examination of hind tibia needed
for id. Neogama's: flattened,
unevenly, sparsely spined; subnata's: cylindrical,
spines dense, uniform in distribution.
Joe Garris photo.
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| ** 8797 Catocala subnata;
Youthful Underwing: 75-90mm.
Fws greyish white with blue-grey and light brown scales,
usually with hws brighter
yellow than those of neogama. Neogama usually
have basal dash; absent in male subnata, but present in females.
Magnification of hind tibia needed for id:
subnata: cylindrical hind tibia;
neogama: compressed or flattened hind tibia.
subnata: ventral surface of tibia densely covered with evenly
distributed spines;
neogama: ventral surface of tibia sparsely covered.
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Catocala subnata, Harrison County, June-July, 2014, Leroy Koehn
| Catocala nebulosa;
75-86mm; Prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends
to and ends at antemedial line. Apical area also tends to be
brown, much darker than median area but not as dark as basal patch.
Anal angle also has darker brown scaling.
Pm line distinct near costa and inner margin, but becomes
weak between the two. It meets inner margin in relative close
proximity to am line.
Closed subreniform spot is large and connects to the
pm line via a thin line.
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** 8804 C. marmorata;
Marbled; wingspan 85-95mm
Dark fw arc runs from costa down through reniform spot to outer margin just below apex.
The subrenifrom spot is light, is bordered inwardly above by a white patch, and is
connected to the pm line by a line rather than being open.
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Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm
| ** 8832 Catocala cara;
Darling; 70-85mm;
Deep maroon almost purple cast to forewings, mixed with
very pale green. Lower half of am and pm lines barely
visible. No distinctive bars or dashes. Two upper
"teeth" on pm line are thin and long.
Hw bands pink. Heavy black checking on
off-white hindwing fringe. Relatively thick black median band of
hindwing almost reaches inner margin which is usually heavily
adorned with dark hairs.
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| ** Catocala carissima;
70-85mm; Distinct light grey brown area at the forewing apex, preceded just inside the postmedial line by a similar but slightly darker patch. The antemedial and post medial lines are sharp and dark.
The inner black band of the hindwing is wide and complete and merges with extensive grey-black scaling along the inner margin. The hindwing fringe is cream coloured.
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** 8834 amatrix
Sweetheart Underwing; 75-95mm;
Very skittish; frequently hides in caves, under
bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down.
Hw patterning/colouration similar to C concumbens and C. cara, but large size (wingspan 75-95mm)
and dark bar (not always present) running from basal area to just below apex
distinguishes Catocala amatrix. Hw median band does not reach
im which is devoid of black scaling, found in C. cara.
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** 8834 amatrix form selecta
Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm)
Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under
bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down.
Several forms, including selecta (to the left)
which lacks dark bar on forewing. Hesseli: melanic form;
pallida: very pale form.
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** 8834 amatrix form hesseli
Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm)
Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under
bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down.
The melanic form hesseli is very dark and displays dark basal hairs in the hindwing.
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