Catocala of Ontario

Wingspan refers to the distance from wing tip to wing tip when the moths are spread with the inner margin of the forewing perpendicular to the body.

List provided by Jeff Crolla.

Many thanks to Tim Dyson of Peterborough, Ontario, and to Maurice Bottos of Windsor, Ontario, for sightings and images. Both collect at bait.

Tim has provided some of the most beautiful images of live Catocala that I have ever seen. In 2016 he sent an image which we both felt was Catocala umbrosa, possibly the first record of this species in Ontario. Larry Gall, however, has indicated it is Catocala ilia.

Catocala ilia, Peterborough, Ontario,
courtesy of Tim Dyson; originally thought by Tim and Bill to be umbrosa.

From Windsor, Maurice reports black underwings: insolabilis, retecta, obscura, residua, vidua and judith (judith is rare...only 1 or 2 a year) which seem to be absent in Tim's more northerly location. Maurice has also sent images of C. amatirix, piatrix, habilis, vidua, mira, blandula, serena, ilia, palaeogama, unijuga and crataegi.

Maurice Bottos reports a new range into Canada for Catocala maestosa. He sent me pictures taken August 24, 2017, from his bait trail in Windsor, Essex County, southern Ontario. I will add maestosa to the Canadian list and to the Ontario list, and I will post the images to the updated maestosa file.

Catocala maestosa taken on bait trail, Windsor, Essex County, Ontario,
August 24, 2017, courtesy of Maurice Bottos.

Catocala maestosa taken on bait trail, Windsor, Essex County, Ontario,
August 24, 2017, courtesy of Maurice Bottos.

Many thanks also to Vincent Lucas who forwarded the following image to me for identification. The picture was taken by animator/photographer Meredith Kinrys, in Toronto.

Catocala cerogama, Toronto, Ontario, August 16, 2012,
courtesy of Meredith Kinrys, via Vincent Lucas,
id by Bill Oehlke, based on prominent, pale grey, "arrowhead-shaped", subreniform spot.

Many thanks also to Paul & Anne Baillargeon who send the following images, also of Catocala cerogama.

Catocala cerogama, Canoe Lake, Frontenac County, Ontario,
August 2, 2015, courtesy of Paul & Anne Baillargeon.

Catocala cerogama, Canoe Lake, Frontenac County, Ontario,
August 2, 2015, courtesy of Paul & Anne Baillargeon.

Visit Ontario Sphingidae

Probable natural hybrid between cara and amatrix,
August 24, 2006, Peterborough, Ontario, courtesy of Tim Dyson,
identification supported by Larry Gall.

The amatrix and piatrix pictures were taken Aug 29, 08 the other 2 were Aug 30, 08 all Devonwood, Windsor. (my # 1 location down here)

Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-45mm **8878 Catocala amica; Girlfriend; 35-40mm. Black postmedian band absent from dorsal (upper) surface of 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. John Himmelman image. Catocala amica, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8878.1 lineella; Little Lined Underwing; 35-40mm. Lacks hw marginal black band. Fw subreniform spot pale, boldy outlined with black. 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. Reniform spot dark, less distinct, in generally darker area. ** 8874 Catocala minuta; Little Underwing, 35-45mm. Fw grey-brown with greatly widened (near costa only), white, st line. Hw outer black band unbroken; inner band forms complete loop, considerable brown scaling along im. Several forms: "eureka": blackish area between am, pm lines; "hiseri": dull grey fw, very faint markings; "mellitula": blackish patch in basal area from costa to i. m.; "obliterata": melanic form, almost completely black fw; "parvula": broad dark patch along fw im.. ** 8873 similis; Similar Underwing, 35-45mm. Pale triangular patch from pm line along costa, pointed at apex; light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform spot. Subreniform spot projects considerably beyond reniform anteriorally at right angle to line of subreniform. Many specimens with small, light coloured, flattened oval spot about halfway between pm/ am lines near midpoint of reniform spot. Pm line almost straight for most of its length. Tim Dyson photo. ** 8846 sordida; Sordid Underwing, 37-45mm. Fw lighter along costa, darker along inner margin. Dark medial lines especially evident through lighter shades near costa. Hw outer black band broken near anal angle. Determination on moth (right) based on dark scaling along inner margin limited to median area and submarginal "teeth" relatively short and blunt. Tim Dyson image. Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group. ** 8876 Catocala micronympha, Little Nymph Underwing, 35-50mm. John Himmelman image. Most specimens have grey fws shaded with green, brown, black and white tints. Usually darkened band passing from costa through reniform spot to om. High variability with this species. Joe Garris photo of C. micronympha form hero. ** 8877 connubialis, Connubial Underwing, 35-50mm. Fw highly variable; several different forms: "sancta" Hulst: typical form, fws with white ground colour, sharply contrasting black lines and markings. Brown shading between pm & subterminal lines; "cordelia" H. Edwards: coloured as above but markings faint; "pulverulenta" Brower: grey-green fws 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. ** 8864 Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing, 40-50mm Fw dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along inner margin. Am, median and pm lines quite faint. Praeclara somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading between the am and pm lines. Praeclara also has paler orange hindwing color. Tim Dyson image. ** 8865 praeclara; Praeclara Underwing, 40-50mm. Fw pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting brown shading beyond post medial line. Black basal dash very close to inner margin, another dash, higher up in median area. Note ontrasting shapes of reniform and subreniform spots. Upper of two larger pml teeth 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. Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black). Fw has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi. Considerable brown in subterminal area subreniform spot very conspicuous, usually brown. A light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot. Hw deep orange, complete inner black band. Outer black band unbroken. Lynn Scott image. Catocala mira; Wonderful Underwing, 40-50mm. Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from blandula (dark brown); crataegi (black). Fw lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi & 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 im between am & pm lines. Hw deep orange, complete inner black band. Outer black band unbroken Tim Dyson image. ** 8858 Catocala crataegi WO; Hawthorn Underwing, 40-50mm. Determination based on dark (black) shading in fw basal area continuing along im to anal angle, brown shading beyond postmedial line. Definite greenish cast to median area. Lower wing has outer black band, broken near anal angle, distinguishing crataegi from blandula. Tim Dyson image. ** 8775 antinympha; Sweetfern Underwing, 45-55mm. Very dark grey, almost black, forewing ground colour distinguishes antinympha. Some brown shading in subreniform spot and also just outside postmedial line. Hw amber to pale orange. Form multoconspicua Reiff, 1919 with a pale, almost white subreniform spot. Tim Dyson image. ** 8772 clintoni; Clinton's Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm. The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash. Vernon Brou image. ** 8772 gracilis; Graceful Underwing, 40-45mm. Gracilis closely resembles sordida but hindwing loop not complete in gracilis as in sordida. Gracilis also tends to have darker inner margin; there is frequently (99% of the time, Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris), but not always, a basal dash. Sordida never has basal dash. ** 8776 coelebs; Old Maid Underwing, wingspan 54-56mm. The gray region from the forewing pm line to the outer margin readily distinguishes this species. The fringe is gray on the lower wing from the brief orange dash at the hindwing apex to the anal angle. Tim Dyson image. Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm ** 8857 Catocala ultronia; Ultronia Underwing, 50-63mm. Fws typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very dark inner margin and characteristic light brown patch, underscored by very dark arc, near wingtip. 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, Ultronia Underwing, 50-63mm. Melanic form nigrescens: dorsal forewing very dark. Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle still visible. Dark basal hairs on hw. Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son. Catocala ultronia form celia. 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. ** 8779 serena Serene Underwing Head, collar, abdomen brown while thorax is grey. Am and pm lines thin but very dark, distinct on otherwise drab, almost uniformly olive-grey fw. The black marginal band of the lower wings is indented at the center, and the relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels this indentation. Basal hairs are brown. Catocala serena courtesy of Carroll Rudy, July 28, Calumet County. #8778 Catocala habilis; 55-65mm. Note large "M" on thorax and "pork chop" shaped, light coloured subreniform spot that becomes very dark in its constriction at juncture with pm line. Pm line narrow, dark, distinct, outwardly lined with narrow suffusion of white scales, then broader band of brown scales, then another broader suffusion of white scales up to very regular dentation of sbtrmnl line. Always significant "bleeding" of yellow-orange to salmon scales into hw fringes. Large reniform spot brown center, faintly edged with black, then white, then black again. Catocala habilis, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. #8817 briseis; Briseis Underwing; 60-70mm. Fws predominantly mottled dark-grey-brown with some lighter areas 1) between pm & sbtrmnl lines, 2) at very base of am & pm lines along i. m., and 3) over subreniform spot running diagonally toward costa. Pm lines without greatly elongated, sharly pointed "teeth" near apex. Hw fringe white, unbroken; inner black band (fairly even) reaches i. m.. #8795 Catocala palaeogama ; 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. #8795 Catocala palaeogama form phalanga; 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. Catocala palaeogama, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8770 Catocala innubens; Betrothed; 55-72mm. Fw mottled with white, grey & brown, and subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from middle of basal/thorax connection to just below much lighter apex at 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. ** 8851 Catocala coccinata; Scarlet; 57-70mm. Usually diffuse basal, anal dashes on otherwise light grey, mottled fw. Hw fringe white (often with some salmon scaling), heavily checked. "Tooth" just below pair of very elongated "teeth" much reduced, quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax. Reniform spot light, often with greenish cast. ** 8840 Catocala illecta; Magdalen Underwing, 60-70mm. Forewing pattern and colouration 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. Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired ** 8781 judith, Judith's Underwing, 45-55mm, One of smaller "black" underwings. Fw uniform light grey with thin, only slightly darkened am, median pm lines. No darkened dashes (slight anal dash) or transverse lines. Reniform area slightly darkened while area just before subterminal line is a bit lighter. Note absence of hw white fringe. ** 8782 Catocala flebilis, yes; Mournful, wingspan: 54-65mm. Diffuse black band runs from basal area to outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey subreniform spot. Reniform spot is filled with brown; there is additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash as there is in angusi. The hindwings have white fringe. J. K. Adams image. Reported in Windsor, Ontario a few times in the last two years: 2018-2019; David Kaposi ** 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 residua, the Residua Underwing, 60-73mm, distinguished from Catocala obscura by grey hindwing fringe of residua. Catocala obscura has white to off-white fringe, 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, 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 light coloured, elongated, open subreniform spot which interrupts dark, diffuse ark running through center of wing from basal area (body-wing juncture) to forewing apex. Center of reniform spot brown, brown area just below costa running to inner margin just outside pm line. Off-white hindwing fringe only lightly checked along wing veins. Catocala retecta, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. Catocala luctuosa, Underwing, 70mm. Fw light grey (yellowish tint) clearly marked with a basal dash that continues with another dash through the am line, followed by another anal dash almost forming bar parallel to im. Hw fringe white, lightly barred at veins. Fw pml "teeth" elongated and dark, continuing dark dar emanating from om just below apex. Catocala dejecta, (wingspan: 56-73mm; Hodge #8790). Dejected Underwing quite similar to Catocala retecta. Light coloured subreniform spot open, but with distinct "pork-chop" shape and separates much darker median area below subreniform spot from very light area to costa above spot. Lower quarter of submarginal area much darker in C. dejecta than in C. retecta. Full size Joe Garris photo. ** 8784 obscura; Obscure Underwing, 60-72mm, has dull, grey forewings, usually void of any significant dashes or streaks, providing for easy identification. Antemedial, median postmedial lines faint, subterminal line region only slightly paler than rest of forewing. Hw fringe is off-white and lightly checked on the veins. Joe Garris photo. Catocala obscura, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8794 Catocala lacrymosa; Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm. Fw highly variable with mixture of black, brown (wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling. Usually whitish crescents, along inner margin at base of antemedial and postmedial lines. Hws black with white checkered fringe, turning black near anal angle. 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. Form "zelica", not shown, has black basal patch and st line. ** 8791 Catocala insolabilis; Inconsolable, 65-75mm. Fw light grey with blackish shading along im. Antemedial, postmedial lines thin. Hw fringe very narrow, grey, becoming whiter toward apex. Ventral surface clearly distinguishes insolabis: almost completely black except for some white in basal area. Vernon A. Brou image. ** 8792 Catocala vidua; Widow; 70-80mm. Fw ground colour light grey. distinguishing dark arc runs through top of reniform spot to just below apex. Hheavy, dark anal, basal dashes, connecting to dark median bar, running parallel to i.m.. Am line thick, black in its upper half. Reniform spot consists of two almost concentric irregular ovals. SWubreniform spot light, open, constricted as it meets pm line. Hw black with broad, white fringe, lightly interrupted. Catocala vidua, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8793 Catocala maestosa; Sad Underwing, 78-98mm. Maesotsa is quite similar to, although usually larger than, vidua. Both have dark arc from costa, above reniform spot, to outer margin just below apex. Maesotsa, however, lacks dark bar, found on vidua, parallel to inner margin. Reniform spot: brown with brown shading just outside postmedial line. Hindwing fringe: white, narrow, heavily barred. Catocala maestosa, August 24, 2017, Windsor, Essex County, Maurice Bottos. Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm ** 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. Several forms. Pm line distinct, dark, has an elongate pair of projections. Pm & am lines meet inner margin in relative proximity. Closed subreniform spot it lighter than surrounding areas, shaped a bit like an arrowhead with point toward body. Hws distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image. ** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line. The hindwings are distinctive. Tim Dyson image. ** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. 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. Catocala cerogama, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. Catocala cerogama, August 16, 2012, Toronto, Meredith Kinrys, via Vincent Lucas. Catocala cerogama, Canoe Lake, Frontenac County, Ontario, August 2, 2015, Paul & Anne Baillargeon. Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm ** 8822 meskei; Meske's Underwing; 65-75mm. Fws less distinctly marked compared to unijuga; some red-orange at hw apex and just inside fringe along outer margin in meskei that is lacking in unijuga. Fw subreniform spot: opened or connected to pm line.Hw pm band is nearly straight, turned in and tapering near anal angle. Tim Dyson image. ** 8821 semirelicta; Semirelict Underwing; 65-75mm. Fw ground colour white with dark lines and shadings. Diffuse dark bar runs from center of basal area to om. a few mm above anal angle. Note regular dentation of st line. Inner black bar on lower wing usually terminates well before inner margin. Form "atala" fw uniformly grey. Unijuga usually larger & has less contrasting black lines. Inner black bar on unijuga usually reaches inner margin. Tim Dyson image. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; wingspan: 65-82mm. Several different forms, most have characteristic white area in and around reniform spot. Diffuse dark arc running from this spot to just below apex. Subreniform spot squarish, concave inner and outer edges and elongated constriction connecting it to pml. White dots near fw om in character with the overall "contrasting" appearance. ** 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. ** 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. ** 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. Catocala ilia, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8771 Catocala piatrix ; Penitent, 68-84mm. Fw: light-colored band/bar extending from light coloured, triangular sbrnfrm spot along aml to costa. Brown, kidney-shaped reniform spot surrounded in pale grey, outlined in black, usually with distinct black along wing veins in dark area outside reniform spot. Hw: fringe lightly barred; lighter in color than deeper orange on rest of wing. Catocala piatrix, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8806 Catocala parta; Mother Underwing, 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. ** 8798 Catocala neogama; 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. ** 8805 unijuga; Once-married; wingspan: 70-90mm. Fairly wide hw black inner band (almost reaching inner margin); very distinctive fw patterning. Meskei tend to have narrower band and dustier (less distinct) looking forewing. Semirelicta tend to have inner bands terminating well before i. ms. Note very white fringe on forewings & hindwings. Carroll Rudy image. Catocala unijuga, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 8797 Catocala subnata; Youthful Underwing, 75-90mm. Fws greyish white with blue-grey, light brown scales. Catocala subnata usually have hws brighter yellow than those of neogama. Neogama usually have basal dash; absent in male subnata, but present in females. Magnification of hind tibia distinguish the two species: subnata: cylindrical; neogama: compressed, flattened. subnata: ventral surface of tibia densely covered with evenly distributed spines; neogama: ventral surface of tibia sparsely covered with sporadic spines. Catocala nebulosa; Prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends to and ends at aml. 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. Pml distinct near costa & inner margin, but becomes weak between the two; meets inner margin in relative close proximity to aml. Closed subreniform spot large, connects to pml via thin line. Catocala nebulosa Burnet Park, LaSalle, Ontario, August 13, 2009, Maurice Bottos. Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm ** 8833 concumbens Sleepy Underwing or Pink Underwing; 60-75mm. Brown thoracic collar is quite evident in this image as is the interruption in the pm line by the open subreniform spot. The white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked on the wing veins. The vibrant pink bands are distinct in colour and also in their relatively smooth contour. ** 8832 Catocala cara; Darling; 70-85mm. Note deep maroon almost purple cast to fws, mixed with very pale green. Lower half of am and pm lines barely visible. No distinctive bars, dashes. Two upper "teeth" on pml thin & long. Hw bands pink. Heavy black checking on off-white hindwing fringe. Relatively thick hw black median band almost reaches inner margin which is usually heavily adorned with dark hairs. Tim Dyson image. Catocala cara, August 30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos. ** 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 and colouration similar to that of C. concumbens, but large size & dark bar running from basal area to just below apex distinguishes C. amatrix. Catocala amatrix courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. ** 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. ** 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. Catocala amatrix, August 29-30, 2008, Devonwood, Windsor, Maurice Bottos.

On August 2, 2016, I recived the following email from Tim Dyson who was visiting in Douro-Dummer, Ontario, "In addition to subnata and neogama, (with which I have not much experience),,, I've photographed a few nice "forms" of species including my second ever C. cerogama ruperti, and second ever bunkeri both just last night!! )August 1). I am almost certain on the latter, just not 100%. Perhaps, if you can't seal the deal for me on your own, we should pop it off to Larry Gall and see what he has to say. Also, I am looking at these strange beings that appear to be semirelicta, however, they are without the long dash, and are somewhat shaded in with gray through their normally white areas. I am thinking form "atala", but so far, this is just from the description in Covell. I will look on your species file and see what I can find, in a few minutes.

"Last night (August 1), we saw sixteen species, with the first C. relicta (two), and still the last of the worn crataegi, blandula, and some ultronia still visiting bait. I think sixteen species might just be a one night record for me. Another coccinata came along four or five nights ago, and like the first the week before, quite skittish, so I did my best to snap a single flight shot, and it turned out not too bad. I think next time, I need to back off for twenty minutes and let him get nicely drunk before making my approach for good photographs. A few nights ago, concumbens finally made an appearance, and there have been a maximum of two as of last night. Have yet to see cara, and don't expect amatrix for maybe another week or two, yet. Ilia are coming now, (two to three per night), including a form normani the past two nights. I am going to miss that place this week ... I won't be back there until Friday!! Am going down to help my sister who lives a fair bit south of here from Wednesday until Friday. She has plenty of walnut trees in the area, including right in her little neighborhood, so I will flick some fruit on the bark, and see what comes.

"Last night, quite late, I had quite a nice looking catocala come sit at a bait. Still have not figured this one out, but am leaning towards a very crisp and dark neogama. Will likely send the photo (only got two of him) in the next e-mail. Would love your help in it's ID when you have a minute. Again, I will check the catocala species files first."

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