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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Moths » Noctuoidea » Erebidae » Catocalinae » Catocalini » Underwings (Catocala)
Photo#343723
Moth - Catocala
Copyright © 2009 Wisconsin Oecanthinancy

Moth - Catocala
Sturtevant, Racine County, Wisconsin, USA
October 15, 2009
Size: 2 in +/-
I'm nowhere near being a moth expert, so excuse this question if it is common 3d grade knowledge ;)...but are those the antennae that seem to be going into those openings?

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Moth - Catocala Moth - Catocala Moth - Catocala Moth - Catocala
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Contributed by Wisconsin Oecanthinancy on 16 October, 2009 - 7:43pm
Last updated 24 October, 2009 - 7:36am

Another fluffy one
In this one of mine, the three-quarter view makes it clear that the antennae are just tucked under the scales. A frontal shot might look more like your moth.
… G Whiz, 26 October, 2009 - 10:46pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Moths.
… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 24 October, 2009 - 7:36am login or register to post comments

Yes
They are antennae, going into the thick fluffy scales
… John Schneider, 24 October, 2009 - 12:43am login or register to post comments

 
They appear to be inserted into an orifice....
....so how do they function as antennae if they are hidden inside the holes? Do they slide them out? ...or am I just looking at an optical illusion?
… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 24 October, 2009 - 7:39am login or register to post comments

 
Antennae
Good question. It seems to me to be just a resting position of sorts. At other times they do take the antennae out and use them. I don't know if they function the same in this position or not.

The "openings" or "holes" aren't really. The masses of scales are like hair; the antennae aren't going into any bodily opening, though it may look like they are.

Not an expert, but I've wondered the same things sometimes. What amazes me are some of the death-watch or other beetles (Byrrodes spp. and maybe others) who compact themselves and seem to make these fairly conspicuous antennae disappear completely!
… John Schneider, 24 October, 2009 - 9:10am login or register to post comments

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