Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Catocala ultronia (Hübner, 1823)
(1),
(2),
(3)
Eunetis ultronia Hübner, 1823
Catocala ultronia var.
adriana Hy. Edwards, 1880
(4)
Catocala ultronia var.
celia Hy. Edwards, 1880
(4),
(5)
Catocala ultronia var.
mopsa Hy. Edwards, 1880
(4),
(5)
Catocala ultronia var.
lucinda Beutenmüller, 1907
(6)
Caltocala ultonia form
nigrescens Cassino, 1917 (
79)
Phylogenetic sequence #930841
Explanation of Names
Bill Oehlke's
site states that specific epithet is the name of a Greek island.
Numbers
Lafontaine & Schmidt (2010) included 101 species of the genus
Catocala in America north of Mexico.
(7)
Powell & Opler (2009) reported 110 species in all of North America, and about 230 worldwide.
(8)Identification
Adult: forewing pattern predominantly longitudinal (running from base to outer margin), rather than transverse (running from costa to inner margin) as in many other Catocala species; typically has dark brown to black strip along inner margin, and similar-colored subapical patch extending from outer margin to PM line or reniform spot; central longitudinal area light gray or brown, but the extent and intensity of shading varies considerably among individuals; pale brown patch usually present along costa at apex; hinding dark orangish-red, rarely pinkish or yellow, with complete black median band and wider black terminal band; small white patch at apex; antennae filiform; sexes similar.
Larva: distinct black line across top of head; body gray with dense fringe of hairs along lateroventral margin above legs; prominent dorsal horn on fifth abdominal segment; oblique black line runs anteriorly from dorsal base of eighth abdominal segment.
Range
Across southern Canada from Nova Scotia to eastern British Columbia, and all of eastern United States, west to Texas and Minnesota.
Season
Adults fly from July through September in the north; as early as late April in the south (Texas).
Food
Larvae show a preference for members of the Rosaceae family, feeding mostly on apple and various species of cherry (Prunus spp.), but will also eat leaves of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American basswood (Tilia americana), and bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata).
Life Cycle
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg; mature larvae descend tree trunk and pupate on or in the soil under leaf litter.
Print References
Barnes, Wm. & J.H. McDunnough, 1918. Illustrations of the North American species of the genus Catocala.
Memoirs of the AMNH 2(1): p.
39;
Pl.7, f.17-20;
Pl.12, f.15, 17 (larva).
(2)
Covell, p. 313, plate 33#9
(9)
Hübner, J., 1823.
Zuträge zur Sammlung exotischer Schmetterlinge 2:
26l
Pl.61, f.347-348.
