Species Cryptocala acadiensis - Catocaline Dart - Hodges#11012

11012

the only species in this genus in North America

wingspan 25-30 mm

forewing olive-green or various shades of brown with light gray costal border expanding downward to include reniform spot; median area grayish brown, bordered by sharply-scalloped AM and PM lines; pale subterminal area has wavy gray ST line that terminates as a blackish patch at the costa; a second blackish patch midway along costa; terminal band black

hindwing bright yellow centrally with broad blackish border and yellow fringe

coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States

adults fly from June to August

larvae feed on arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.), cherry, dock (Rumex spp.), dogbane (Apocynum spp.), elderberry (Sambucus spp.), meadowsweet (Spiraea spp.), St. Johnswort (Hypericum spp.), and yarrow

one generation per year

May be locally very common in some areas (e.g. southern Quebec) or a species of special concern in other areas (e.g. Indiana).

superficially resembles Catocala amica (Girlfriend Underwing) which has an incomplete black band on the hindwing and a different pattern on the forewing, and Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing) which is much larger and has a different forewing pattern

Moth Photographers Group

pinned adult image plus common name reference, identification, distribution, food plants (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

US distribution map (Moths of North America; USGS)

larval food plants; PDF doc plus abundance and flight season (Macrolepidoptera of Mont Saint-Hilaire Region, McGill U., Montreal)