Species Catocala praeclara - Praeclara Underwing - Hodges#8865

8865

Catocala praeclara Grote & Robinson, 1866 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6)

Specific epithet from Latin meaning "very bright," for the "anterior wings lustrous, evenly and nearly entirely covered with pale cinereous and greenish scales which have a bright reflection." (1)

Wingspan 3.8-5.0 cm. (7)

A medium-size moth with dull greenish or purple grey forewings. The antemedial line is black and distinct, the other cross-lines less so, mainly indicated by dark marks at the costa. The basal dash is indistinct or absent. A short dark dash in the outer fold, with some dark red-brown scaling adjacent. The hindwings are bright yellow-orange, with a median black band that forms a long loop with the basal streak. A wider black terminal band, divided or nearly so in the anal area, forming a dark, anal spot. The antennae are simple and both the sexes are alike. It can only be mistaken with Catocala blandula, which has much more mottled grey, black and whitish forewings. Canadian populations, which are darker and duller than more southern ones, were previously treated as a separate species, Catocala manitoba (Beut). (7)

Primarily eastern, from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta, south to Florida and Kansas. (7)

Lectotype female: New York. (8)

Dry shrub stands in the valleys of the grassland region. (7)

Adults fly August and September.

E.H. Strickland Museum lists chokeberry (Aronia Rosaceae) and plum (Prunus Rosaceae) (7), HOSTS lists only leadplant (Amorpha canescens Fabaceae) (9), Bill Oehlke lists chokeberry and juneberry. (10)

Adults are nocturnal and come to light and probably sugar baits (no data). Larvae are solitary defoliators and the egg is the overwintering stage. There is a single annual brood. (7)

Barnes, Wm. & J.H. McDunnough, 1918. Illustrations of the North American species of the genus Catocala. Memoirs of the AMNH 2(1): p.41; Pl.9, f.32. (5)

Grote, A.R. & C.T. Robinson, 1866. Lepidopterological notes and descriptions - no. 2. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia 6: 25; Pl.4, f.4. (1)

Moth Photographers Group (MPG) (11)

E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum (7)

Bill Oehlke's North American Catocala (10)

Moths of Maryland

CBIF

Augustus Radcliffe Grote (1841-1903)