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Species Catocala meskei - Meske's Underwing - Hodges#8822
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Erebinae
Tribe Catocalini
Genus Catocala (Underwings)
Species meskei (Meske's Underwing - Hodges#8822)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Catocala meskei Grote, 1873 (1), (2), (3)
Catocala beaniana Grote, 1878 ( 195), (4), (5), (2)
Catocala rosalinda Hy. Edwards, 1880 (5), (2)
Catocala meskei form krombeini Franclemont, 1938 (6) Explanation of Names Specific epithet in honor of Otto von Meske (1837-1890), who had two other Lepidoptera named after him around the same time, Pero meskaria (Packard, 1876) and Hesperia meskei (Edwards, 1877), as well as the genus Meskea.
Form krombeini Franclemont, 1938 named for Karl V. Krombein (1912-2005). Identification Adult - forewing gray and evenly patterned (has a dirty or dust-covered appearance), with few contrasts or strong markings compared to similar species; PM line often single (at least in leading half of wing) with no white border on distal side; subreniform spot and area basal to reniform spot form a continuous whitish patch with a thin dark vein running through the middle. hindwing banded black and reddish-orange; black median band relatively thin, tapered and usually angled inward at tip; apex with light orangish or yellowish patch. Range Alberta to Quebec and Maine, south to South Carolina, west to Colorado, Montana.
Lectotype female: Albany, NY. (4)Season Adults fly from July to September. Food Larvae feed on leaves of various poplar ( Populus deltoides, Populus fremontii, Populus grandidentata, Populus nigra ) and willow ( Salix). (8)Life Cycle One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.
Larva; head; prepupal larva in shelter; adult
See Also Mother Underwing is slightly larger, has black basal, anal, and subapical dashes, and a cleaner, less "dust-covered" appearance to the forewings.
Once-married Underwing ( C. unijuga) is similar but has more contrasting markings on forewing, including a conpicuous white ST line, and a double PM line (white with black line on both sides). The hindwing of C. unijuga has a broader median band, usually not angled inward at tip, and the apex of the hindwing lacks a light orangish or yellowish patch. Compare images of both species. 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. 26; Pl.4, f.8. (3)
Grote, A.R., 1873. On the genus Catocala. The Canadian Entomologist 5(9): 161. (1)Works Cited | 1. | On the genus Catocala.
Augustus Radcliffe Grote. 1873. The Canadian Entomologist 5(9): 161-164. | |
| 2. | The genus Catocala.
George. D. Hulst. 1884. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 7(1): 14-56. | |
| 3. | Illustrations of the North American species of the genus Catocala.
William Barnes, James Halliday McDunnough. 1918. Memoirs of the AMNH 2(1). | |
| 4. | Systematics of moths in the genus Catocala (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). III.
Gall, Lawrence F. & David C. Hawks. 2002. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 56(4): 234-264. | |
| 5. | Notes upon the genus Catocala, with descriptions of new varieties and species.
Henry Edwards. 1880. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 3(7): 53-62. | |
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