Genus Catocala - Underwings

kah-TOCK-uh-lah

formerly placed in family Noctuidae

Author of genus is Schrank, 1802. According to this website the genus name comes from Greek: "kato" means below or behind and "kalos" means beautiful, describing the colorful hindwings of these moths.

Underwings: the forewings are normally held together over the back at rest, hiding the hindwings beneath - hence, the hindwings are the (bold and beautiful) underwings that this genus is known for.

The common names of many species are translations of the species epithets; Linnaeus chose a female/marriage theme when naming a few of the earlier-described species, and the practice was continued by later authors (hence we have The Bride, The Girlfriend, Old Wife, The Widow, Once-married Underwing, The Newlywed, The Darling, etc.) These fanciful names help collectors and moth enthusiasts remember the various species but have no particular significance in themselves. A few species are named after a person or the larval food plant (example: Meske's Underwing, Hawthorn Underwing).

Nearctica.com lists 111 species in this genus.

Covell, p. 172, lists 110 species for North Amercia. (1)

Species diversity greater in the east (about double the number that are found in the west), with the greatest North American diversity occurring in the northeastern United States.

generally large heavy-bodied noctuids; wingspan ranges from 20 to 98 mm - a fair number of species are in the 40-50 mm range, and another group is in the 60-75 mm range

Forewing usually dull brownish/grayish with low-contrast pattern of wavy/zigzag lines, giving an overall appearance that resembles the bark of trees (upon which adults usually rest during the day)

hindwing usually black with brightly-colored bands (orange, yellow, pink, red); a number of species have all-black hindwings

Much of North America. Genus also occurs in Eurasia.

Forests, especially deciduous forests.

adults usually found in late summer/fall (July-October) with peak numbers in late August/September

Larvae of most species feed on foliage of deciduous trees.

one generation per year; overwinters as an egg; eggs laid on bark of trees in fall, and hatch in spring; larvae ascend tree to feed on leaves, then descend trunk and pupate on ground; adults emerge from pupae at ground level

Popular with collectors, due to large size, bright colors on hindwings, multiple color forms in many species, and the challenge of identifying specimens (many are difficult to distinguish from one or more similar species).

Nocturnal, so found at lights, but often encountered during the day in woodlands. They are seen perched on tree trunks and are adept at flying off just as the moth-watcher draws near enough for a good look or a photograph. They typically fly off through the trees, landing on the opposite side of a trunk, again frustrating the moth hunter.

When a resting adult is touched or disturbed, it may quickly spread its forewings to reveal the startling hindwings beneath. This might scare a predator off, or allow the moth time to either fly away or drop to the ground and hide among vegetation.

Large species may sometimes be mistaken for sphinx moths (Sphingidae). Smaller species at rest with the hindwings hidden can look similar to a number of other noctuids. Species of Drasteria also have brightly-patterned black and yellow/orange hindwings, but their forewings usually have large and highly-contrasting pale patches.

Covell, pp. 172-174, 304-317, plates 32-37, describes 76 eastern species, illustrating most of these. (1)

Holland, pp. 260-269, plates 31-36 (2)

Himmelman, pp. 118-120, describes the Catocala Wars, and discusses some of the unusual names for this genus. (3)

Wagner, pp. 45-47, has photos of caterpillars of six species. (4)

Miller, pp. 67-68, # 113-117, has photos of five western species. (5)

Writeup on origin of scientific names for Catocala genus and its species (Bill Oehlke, The Catocala Website)

The Underwing Moths of Oklahoma: html file, or PDF file--keys and describes 35 species, giving some life-history information (no illustrations).

Legion of Night 71 Catocala species: description of adults, range, status, flight season, larval food plants, similar species, and notes on each by Theodore Sargent, plus plates and figures on anatomy, named forms, and variations (Joe Kunkel)

Great Smoky Mountain National Park Checklist lists 27 species.

North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists about 42 species from that state.

Insects of Cedar Creek (live larva and pinned adult images, John Haarstad et al, U. of Minnesota)

Moth Photographer's Group: Plate 46a, Plate 46b, Live 46 (pinned and live adult images)

Harold Vermes slides--linked images of specimens

The Catocala Website. The online "Bible" of Catocala species; an extensive collection of images and information on species identification, life histories, name pronunciation, collecting, feeding, and rearing these moths (Bill Oehlke, Prince Edward Island, Canada)

pinned adult image thumbnails of 47 species occurring in eastern Canada (CBIF)

pinned adult image thumbnails of 26 species occurring in western Canada (CBIF)