Arizona Catocala

Most of the following information is taken from Bruce Walsh (BW). His website is at
http://nitro.biosci.arizona.edu/zeeb/butterflies/nocut.html#Catocalinae

Additional information comes from Kelly Richers (KR) and Pierre Legault (PL). Evan Rand (ER) and Kim Wismann (KW) have also sent data.

Lack of reporting for a particular county does not indicate the species does not fly there. Look at neighbouring counties or the entire Arizona list to help identify a species. Most of the county information is from Bruce Walsh's site and covers only Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Pinal.

Help with images or sightings (date/locaton) would be greatly appreciated, even if it is just a confirmation of what is already listed. Please send images and information to Bill Oehlke

I suspect that Catocala relicta, Catocala semirelicta, Catocala andromache and Catocala jessica fly in the northern or western part of the state, as they are listed for Arizona in HDMS. Kim Wismann, however, has taken relicta in Gila County.

Catocala relicta, Payson, Gila County, Arizona,
August 26, 2006, courtesy of Kim Wismann.

The Catocala neogama, Catocala ilia and Catocala piatrix, listed by HDMS, may be limited to subspecies Catocala neogama euphemia, Catocala ilia zoe and Catocala piatrix dionyza.

Catocala benjamini jumpi flies in the Kofa Mountains.

I have indicated maximum and minimum known wingspans for each species and have put the different species into respective columns according to my interpretation of the hindwing colour. Framed specimens fade considerably when exposed to light. What one person sees as orange another may see as yellow! There is also some variation between live individuals.

Catocala larvae are mostly night feeders and are masters of camouflage. During the day they hide in the weeds and leaf litter near the base of the tree. In many case, under cover of darkness, they climb the tree and begin feeding after dark.

Catocala relicta courtesy of Bill Oehlke

As of April 4, 2010, this page has been further updated as per research data compiled by Larry Gall.

I would like to continue to refine the listings to county levels so images and data (date, location at least to county level, bait, lights) would be very much appreciated. Please send same to Bill Oehlke. All images that I use on my websites remain the property of respective photographers and images are credited as such.

The Identification Keys Diagram should help you understand the terminology I have used in describing the various species.

Visit Arizona Sphingidae: Hawk Moths/Sphinx Moths.

YELLOW frederici 40-52 benjamini benjamini jumpi chelidonia 45-50 chelidonia uniforma caesia 55 ilia zoe 66

ORANGE desdemona 55-70 neogama euphemia 80-90 piatrix dionyza 68-84

SALMON verrilliana 45-60 semirelicta 65-75 aholibah 80-90

RED ophelia 52 hermia 58-68 electilis jessica 70-80 grotiana 70-80 violenta 70-80 junctura 70-85

SCARLET amatrix 75-95

PINK

BLACK

SPECIAL relicta 70-80

Yellow-Orange Underwings: Smallest to Largest Catocala frederici; Frederic's Underwing: 40-52mm: Fw blotchy yellow-brown, faint lines. Double am line has large central lobe. Subrenifrom spot closed and pale. Submarginal area orangey-yellow. Hw yellow-orange, with outer black band broken, followed by flattened dot. Thin inner black band angles almost 90 degree, truncated well before im. Apex, large yellow area. Cochise County; BW Catocala chelidonia; 45-50mm. Fw fuscous grey. Reniform, subreniform spots concolourous, with srf closed, sometimes lighter and brown. Pm line thin, distinct, two upper teeth slightly produced. Hw orangish. Black median band swollen near cell, angles 90 d toward, not to im. Fringes off-white opp. orange, grey opp. outer band. Some orange near apex inside thin, distinct sm line. Apache, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal, Yavapai three miles north of Sunflower, Maricopa Co., June 21, 2011, of Evan Rand. Catocala chelidonia uniforma; 45-50mm. This subspecies has uniform gray forewings with substantially reduced hoary mottling. The antemedial and postmedial forewing lines vary from inconspicuous to very distinct, but weaken toward inner margin. Known from mountains of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Catocala benjamini; 50 mm. Catocala benjamini reportedly flies as the nominate susbspecies in Arizona, Nevada, southern California and southern Utah. Catocala benjamini mayhewi flies in southern California. Catocala benjamini jumpi flies in the Kofa Mountains of Arizona. Catocala benjamini ute flies in southeastern Utah in the Balaneed Rock Area at elevations around 1610 m. benjamini benjamini: Cochise, Graham, Pima; BW benjamini jumpi: Kofa Mountains, Yuma County. Catocala caesia; 55mm. Fw blotchy blue-grey-brown with some lighter areas. Double am line dark & thick/diffuse. Distinct pm line, evenly dentate, traced outwardly with thin white. Reniform spot pale brown. Small subrectangular subreniform spot almost pure white, indented on inward side. Hw bright yellow, unchecked yellow fringes. Inner black band relatively thin, angles acutely toward im, bluntly truncated. Cochise, Pima. Catocala desdemona; 55-70mm. Fw gc is light mottled grey with greenish blue cast. Double reniform spot brown. Subreniform spot large, lighter brown, closed; tail extends to pm line. Upper pml teeth moderately produced, next two teeth, not at all. Next produced, thick, rounded, distinct inward loop below. Hw ib turns 90 toward im. Ob broken; large orange apical area. Cochise, Greenlee, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai. several Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Co., 27 July 2010, elevation 7600', Evan Rand 1 Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise Co., 16 July 2010, Evan Rand 1 Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima Co., 16 July 2010, Evan Rand Catocala ilia zoe male; 65mm. Fw gc light grey, considerable brown scaling. Double reniform spot has brown center, thinly outlined in black, widely outlined in white, then thinly outlined in black. Subreniform spot indented on inner & outer sides, just above its tailed extension, which may/may not be open. Am line black, distinct, pointed, triangular shaped indentation just above im. Pml darker along upper half. Gila Co. August, ER Cochise, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz; BW 2 Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Co., 27 July 2010, elevation 7600', Evan Rand 1 Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise Co., 24 July 2010, Evan Rand 1 Brown Canyon, Baboquivari Mountains, Pima Co., 30 July 2010, Evan Rand 1 Bear Canyon, Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima Co., 17 July 2010, Evan Rand Catocala piatrix dionyza; 68-84mm. Fw has light-colored band/bar extending from large, pale brown subreniform spot along am line to costa. There is usually relatively dark area between reniform spot and pm line, wing veins tend to be dark and distinct there. Hw fringe lightly barred, lighter than deeper orange on rest of wing. Paulden, Yavapai County, 77mm, September 6, 2008, Evan Rand. 70mm, Pinal County, October 6, 2008, ER neogama euphemia; 78-90mm: Fw ground colour charcoal grey, often with bluish tinge. Am line thick, dark along costa, extends in three more narrowly lined lobes, upper two notched, toward, but not reaching midpoint of im. Pm line has two upper teeth elongated, followed by much short tooth, longer tooth along extended line of subreniform spot. Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, July 31, 2008, Evan Rand. Copper Canyon, Cochise County, 75mm, summer of 2009, Evan Rand. Bear Creek, Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, July 3, 2008, Evan Rand. Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, July 31, 2007, Evan Rand. Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, August 3, 2007, Evan Rand. Carr Cyn, 5500', Cochise County, Aug 7, 1999, Kelly Richers. 1 Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise Co., 24 July 2010, Evan Rand. 1, Jct. of FR 49 and FR 812, Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz Co., 7 Aug. 2010, elevation 5100', Evan Rand. 2 Pinal Peak, Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., 28 Aug. 2010, elevation 7000', Evan Rand. 3 U.S. 60/77 milepost 320, Navajo Co., 19 Aug. 2010, Evan Rand. Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm ** 8821 semirelicta; Semirelict Underwing; 65-75mm FW ground colour is whitish with dark lines and shadings. Diffuse dark bar runs from center of basal area to outer margin a few mm above anal angle. Note regular dentation of st line. Hw inner black bar usually terminates well before inner margin. The form "atala" has a forewing that is uniformly grey. Unijuga is usually larger and has less contrasting black lines. Inner black bar on unijuga usually reaches inner margin. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; wingspan: 65-82mm. Several different forms, most have characteristic white area in/around reniform spot. Diffuse dark arc runs from this spot to just below apex. Subreniform spot squarish, concave inner/outer edges and elongated constriction connecting it to pml. White dots near fw om in character with the overall "contrasting" appearance. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form conspicua In this form the entire reniform spot is heavily suffused with white scaling on an otherwise darker ground colour. Hence the form name "conspicua". Tim Dyson image. not sure they are in Arizona ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form satanas In this melanic form the entire forewing, including the reniform spot is very dark. Hence the form name "satanas". The dark basal streak is still evident on this form. Tim Dyson image. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form normani In this semi-melanic form the entire forewing, excluding the reniform spot, is relatively dark. The brownish, kidney-shaped center of the reniform spot is outlined in white. The basal streak and subapical arc are still visible. Tim Dyson image. aholibah; 80-90mm: Fw is mix of grey and brown, with preponderance of brown in subterminal area. Double reniform spot has diffuse brown outline of inner oval. Subreniform spot is small, distinctly outlined in black, light coloured and does not connect to pm line. Upper two teeth of pm line are elongate and are followed by relatively smooth line til next tooth below the subreniform spot. Hindwing salmon or pinkish. 1 Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Co., 27 July 2010, elevation 7600'; Evan Rand. at least 10 Pinal Peak, Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., 28 Aug. 2010, elevation 7000'; Evan Rand. Little Red Underwings: Wingspans: 39-55mm verrilliana; Verrill's Underwing; 45-60mm Closed, subtriangular subreniform spot is large and light in colour. Light patch runs from subreniform diagonally to costa. Dark area on basal side of am line and light patches between postmedian and subterminal lines distinguish this species. 48mm, Williams, Coconino Co., June 26, 2010; Evan Rand. Harshaw, Santa Cruz Co., July 9, 2008; Evan Rand Chiricahua Mtns, Cochise Co., July 3, 2010; Evan Rand. 1 Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima Co., 16 July 2010; Evan Rand. three miles north of Sunflower, Maricopa Co., June 21, 2011, of Evan Rand. Catocala ophelia; Ophelia Underwing: 52mm: Fw dark grey, am/pm lines are relatively smooth except for two jagged spikes in pm near apex. Considerable brown shading outside subterminal line. Hw deep red, black median band constricted in center and terminating before im. Black submarginal border is quite broad near apex. White fringe heavily checked. Hualapai Mtn Rd, Mohave County, Aug 18 1991, Kelly Richers, Cochise; BW. Catocala hermia; Hermia Underwing: 58-68mm; pinkish: Fw almost uniform, grey-brown or clay coloured; thin, yet contrasting lines. Distinct large double reniform spot. Large concolourous subrenifrom spot usually open. Hw pinkish red, relatively even, narrow black bands. Inner black band ends before im. Fringe white, checked, pink/red "bleeding" along outer band, near apex. Cochise, Graham, Santa Cruz; BW Large Salmon-Red Underwings: Wingspans: 70-90mm Catocala junctura; Joined Underwing; 67-85mm. Fw is usually dark brownish-gray to evenly powdered blue-grey w/o significant markings. Doubled reniform spot often obscure. Thin, slightly darker am and pm lines run from costa to im, not widely spaced at im. Hw salmon/ orange-pink, narrow inner black band turns in sharply, does not meet dark-haired im. Chiricahua National Park, July 11, 2002, Pierre Legault. Catocala grotiana; Grote's Underwing: 70-80mm: The white outlines outside the postmedial and inside the subterminal lines make this species stand out. The hindwing inner black band is even and relatively thin and terminates well before the inner margin. The fringe is heavily checked and charcoal grey along the inner margin. Hindwings can be orange or red. Greer, White Mts, 8200'. Apache Co, Aug 2, 1997, Kelly Richers. 8 Pinal Peak, Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., 28 Aug. 2010, elevation 7000', Evan Rand. Pinal Parks Rec Area, Gila County, September 9, 2011, Evan Rand. ** 8833 violenta Violent Underwing (70-80mm): Two elongated, well-defined spikes high in the postmedial line extend to subterminal line. Next tooth is very short. There is considerable brown shading on the forewing between the pme and st lines. Subreniform spot is light with light bar extending obliquely to the costa. Walnut Canyon, Coconino County, September 13, 2008, Evan Rand. Payson, Gila County, August 10, 2007, Evan Rand. Pena Blanca Lake, 3960', Santa Cruz Co, Aug 4 1999, Kelly Richers. Gila, ER many, Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Co., 27 July 2010, elevation 7600', Evan Rand 1 Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise Co., 24 July 2010, Evan Rand 2 Bear Canyon, Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima Co., 17 July 2010, Evan Rand 2 Pinal Peak, Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., 28 Aug. 2010, elevation 7000', Evan Rand 1, Harshaw Townsite, Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz Co., 2 Aug. 2010, elevation 4850', Evan Rand Catocala jessica; Jessica Underwing: 75mm: Fw is bluish grey with some brown scaling. Am line is irregular, meets i m almost at midpoint. Pm line has one upper tooth produced, second is much less so. Third is little more than a sharp point on smooth curve to fourth tooth, somewhat produced over opening of large subreniform spot. Reniform spot is double and dark in darker region of median area. Garden Cyn, Huachuca Mts, Cochise County, Oct 16, 1998, Kelly Richers. Washington Park, Gila County, 75mm, June 12, 2010, 5800m, Evan Rand. Catocala electilis; Fw dark grey. Black pm line thin but distinct; two upper teeth not greatly produced. Reniform spot dark brown; large, pork-chop shaped subreniform spot lighter brown extends to pm line. Brown shading in subterminal area. Hw salmon (orange to red). Cochise, Santa Cruz; BW Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm ** 8834 amatrix Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm). Very skittish, frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. Hw patterning and colouration similar to that of C. concumbens, but large size (wingspan 75-95mm) and dark bar running from basal area to just below apex distinguishes C. amatrix. See large Catocala amatrix courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. ** 8834 amatrix form selecta Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm) Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. Several forms, including selecta (to the left) which lacks dark bar on forewing. Hesseli: melanic form; pallida: very pale form. ** 8834 amatrix form hesseli Sweetheart Underwing; (wingspan 75-95mm) Very skittish and frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. The melanic form hesseli is very dark and displays dark basal hairs in the hindwing. Gila, August; Maricopa, late September 2006, ER Chiricahua Mtns, Cochise Co., July 3, 2010; Evan Rand Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. Payson, Gila County, August 21, 2006, Kim Wismann ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form clara: basal and subterminal areas predominantly white. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form phrynia: evenly dusted with grey over entire forewing. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October, poplars and willows

If you have additional sightings to add to the list or high quality images of moths or larvae, please forward same to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com.

Images and/or information will be credited to photographer/source.

Records of Catocala specimens from different Arizona counties are listed below:

Apache chelidonia grotiana 70-80, KR

Cochise aholibah ER jessica KR benjamini BW caesia 47-55mm, HDK desdemona 65-70, KR electilis BW frederici BW ilia zoe BW hermia BW junctura 70-85, PL n. euphemia 80-90, KR ophelia BW verrilliana ER violenta ER, July

Coconino chelidonia violenta ER, Sept. verrilliana ER, June 26

Gila aholibah ER amatrix ER, Aug chelidonia grotiana ER, Aug-Sep ilia zoe ER, Aug jessica ER pia. dionyza ER, Aug. relicta Kim Wismann (Payson) Aug violenta ER, Aug.

Graham benjamini BW hermia BW

Greenler desdemona

La Paz mostly desert

Maricopa amatrix ER, Aug chelidonia ER, June 21 desdemona verrilliana ER, June 21

Mohave chelidonia ophelia

Navajo

Pima benjamini BW caesia desdemona ilia zoe BW neo. euphemia ER Madera Canyon, July August violenta KR

Pinal chelidonia desdemona ilia zoe BW ilia zoe ER, Oct. 6, 2008 p. dionyza ER, Oct. 6, 2008.

Santa Cruz desdemona electilis BW hermia BW ilia zoe BW verrilliana ER, Harshaw July 9, 2008 violenta KR.

Yavapai chelidonia desdemona pia. dionyza ER, Sept

Yuma benjamini jumpi mostly desert

Evan Rand reports the following:
C. violenta (positive)- 1 record Gila Co. August
C. piatrix - 1 record Gila Co. August
C. piatrix dionyza 70mm Pinal County, October 6, 2008
C. amatrix - 1 record Gila Co. August (definite), 1 record Maricopa Co. late September 2006 (probable. Didn't collect, but I got a very good look at it, was a large underwing with red hindwings I suppose it could also have been C. aholibah).
C. ilia zoe - 1 record Gila Co. August

Catocala electilis [ MONA 8831 ] Counties: (Source: Larry Gall , pers. comm 2001) Cochise Santa Cruz
! Catocala amatrix [ MONA 8834 ] Foodplants Populus/Salix (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
! Catocala desdemona [ MONA 8835a ]
Taxonomy: C. benhamini is a full species, not a subspecies of C. delilah as listed in MONA (Dave Hawks, per com.) Foodplants Quercus (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
Catocala frederici [ MONA 8837 ] Counties: (Source: Larry Gall , pers. comm 2001) Cochise
! Catocala chelidonia [ MONA 8838 ] Foodplants Quercus (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
Catocala benjamini [ MONA 8849a ] Taxonomy: C. benhamini is a full species, not a subspecies of C. andromache as listed in MONA (Dave Hawks, per com.) Counties: (Source: Larry Gall , pers. comm 2001) Cochise Graham Pima Foodplants Quercus (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
! Catocala verrilliana [ MONA 8852 ] Foodplants Quercus (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
! Catocala violenta [ MONA 8853 ] Foodplants Quercus (L. Gall, pers. comm 2001)
Catocala ophelia [ MONA 8854 ] Counties: (Source: Larry Gall , pers. comm 2001) Cochise
Catocala californiensis [ MONA 8862 ]

Evan Rand sends the following possibilities:

Cochise
Catocala frederici (probable) - 1 Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Co., AZ - 27 July 2010, elevation 7600'

Santa Cruz Co.
Catocala caesia? (very worn specimen, difficult to ID) 1, Pena Blanca Canyon, Atascosa Mountains, Santa Cruz Co., AZ - 20 July 2010

Gila Co.
Catocala junctura (probable) - 1 Pinal Peak, Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., AZ - 28 Aug. 2010, elevation 7000'

Navajo Co.
Catocala hermia (probable) - 2 60/77 milepost 320, Navajo Co., AZ - 19 Aug. 2010

All seem reasonable

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Canadian Index

Return to Main Index

Visit "Systematics of moths in the genus Catocala (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) IV.
Nomenclatorial stabilization of the Nearctic fauna, with a revised synonymic check list";
ZooKeys 39: 37–83 (2010) by Lawrence F. Gall, David C. Hawks

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

Eggs of many North American Saturniidae species are offered during the spring and summer. Occasionally summer Actias luna and summer Antheraea polyphemus cocoons are available. Shipping to US destinations is done from within the US.

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Catocala Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

To show appreciation for this site, click on the flashing butterfly to the left, a link to many worldwide insect sites.