Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-45mm
| **
C. alabamae;
Alabama; wingspan: 30-40mm
Uniform greenish-grey forewing may have thin but dark
(contrasting) medial lines or they may be nearly absent (titania);
alabamae often displays dash in median/anal angle area,
missing or nearly absent in titania. Brown shading
between pm line and sbtml line.
unconfirmed
Vernon A. Brou image.
|
| Catocala jair;
35-40mm. The moth is hard to distinguish from amica, but jair has broader, blunter forewings than amica and the post medial
line of jair is straighter (much less dentate) than that of amica. The hindwings of both species seem identical.
|
| **8878 Catocala amica;
Girlfriend; wingspan: 35-40mm
The black postmedian band is absent from the dorsal (upper)
surface of the hindwing, but it is present on the ventral surface.
Moths come in to lights and to bait.
Catocala amica lineella is now (2010) elevated to full species status as Catocala lineella.
Maurice Bottos image.
|
| ** 8878.1 lineella;
Little Lined Underwing; wingspan: 35-40mm.
This species is without hw marginal black band. Fw subreniform spot is pale and boldy
outlined with black. There is similar light brownish-gray patch in
upper half of median area near pm line, and just between
subreniform spot and am line there is similarly
coloured light patch paralleling am lne.
The reniform spot is dark, less distinct and in a generally darker
area.
|
| ** 8874 Catocala minuta;
Little Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm.
Fw generally grey-brown with greatly widened
(near costa only), white, st line.
Hw outer black band unbroken, inner band
forms complete loop with considerable brown scaling along
im.
"eureka" blackish area between lines;
"hiseri" dull grey fw, very faint markings;
"mellitula" blackish basal patch from costa to
im;
"obliterata" almost completely
black fw;
"parvula" broad dark patch along fw im.
Steve Walter image. unconfirmed
|
| ** 8873 similis;
Similar Underwing, wingspan: 35-45mm.
Pale triangular patch from pm line along costa,
pointed at apex, light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform
spot. Subreniform
spot projects considerably beyond
reniform anteriorally at right angle to subreniform line.
Often with small, light coloured, flattened oval spot
about halfway between lines near midpoint of
reniform spot. Pm line almost straight for most of
length. Tim Dyson photo.
|
| dulciola;
Quiet/Sweet Underwing, wingspan: 40-45mm;
A double, black, almost smooth antemedial line (inner line broken only near the costa)
with other lines obscure distinguishes dulciola.
There is also a dark basal dash on an otherwise plain, light grey
forewing.
|
| ** 8846 sordida;
Sordid Underwing, wingspan: 37-45mm.
Fw lighter along costa, darker along im. Dark medial lines evident through lighter
shades near costa. Hw outer black band broken
near anal angle.
I made determination based on
dark scaling along the inner margin limited to median area
and submarginal "teeth" relatively
short and blunt.
Tim Dyson image.
|
Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm
These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group.
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form gisela,
Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. Usually a darkened band passing from
costa through reniform spot to outer margin.
Form "gisela" Meyer has a forewing that is mostly black.
Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form hero,
Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. Usually a darkened band passing from
the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin.
Form "hero" H. Edwards has a median area that is mostly white.
Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form lolita,
Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Form "lolita" Sargent has very dark forewings.
Harold J. Vermes image, used with permission from his son.
|
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form sargenti,
Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. Usually a darkened band passing from
costa through reniform spot to outer margin.
Form "sargenti" Covell (very rare) has a hindwing that is all black.
|
| ** 8877 connubialis,
Connubial Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
Fw highly variable; several different
forms: "sancta", typical form: fws with
white ground colour and sharply contrasting black lines and markings.
Brown shading between pm and subterminal
lines; "cordelia", as above but markings are
faint; "pulverulenta", grey-green fws, faint
markings, sometimes none;
"broweri". melanic form with dark green, almost black fws.
Hw has separate anal spot and outer band ends with straight cut.
Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8848 louiseae,
Louise's Underwing, (wingspan: 40mm). Distinct white "smile" (in spread specimens) between reniform and subreniform spots.
Narrow but distinct white line immediately following black postmedial line.
Hw deep yellow orange, outer black band interrupted,
followed by dot, ending before im.
|
| ** 8845 messalina,
Messalina Underwing, (wingspan: 40-45mm).
The forewing is a plain, dull, grey-green, darkening toward the outer margin.
The hindwing is like that of the false underwing, having no inner black band. The outer band is quite wide.
|
| ** 8847 gracilis,
Graceful Underwing, (wingspan: 40-45mm).
Gracilis closely resembles sordida but hindwing loop not complete in gracilis as in sordida.
Gracilis tends to have darker inner margin, frequently (99% of the time, Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris),
but not always, a basal dash. Sordida lacks basal dash.
In the form lemmeri, black border along im very sharply defined.
|
| ** 8858.1 pretiosa,
Precious Underwing, (wingspan: 40-50mm).
Similar to crataegi and mira; pretiosa has considerable creamy white colouration in median area.
Lower portion of basal area is light, not dark as in crataegi.
HW inner black band forms loop, outer band is broken (not complete as in mira,
followed by dot tapering to anal angle. as pretiosa charlottei
|
| Catocala pretiosa texarkana
Texas-Arkansas Underwing; 40-50mm;
The median area is quite light with a wide whitish band paralleling the antemedial line from the costa almost to the
inner margin. The subreniform spot is distinctly brown.
The inner black band on the hindwing forms a complete loop and mingles with dark scaling along the inner margin.
The outer black band is almost broken. The orange-yellow fringe is heavily checked with black.
|
| ** 8860 lincolnana,
Underwing, (wingspan: 40-50mm).
Fws pale grey-brown with distinct dark curve running from costa along antemedial line to im, advancing to anal angle.
Hw inner black band forms complete loop, outer black band broken and followed by dot. probably
|
| ** 8864
Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
Fw dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along
im. Antemedial, median and postmedial lines
quite faint.
Praeclara is somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading
between am and pm lines. Praeclara also has paler orange
hindwing color. Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8865
praeclara; Praeclara Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
Fw pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting
brown shading beyond pm line.
Black basal dash very close to im and
another dash, higher up in median area.
Note the contrasting shapes of reniform and subreniform spots.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8867 Catocala blandula;
Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of forewing distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi.
Considerable brown in subterminal area
and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown.
Light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot.
The hindwing is deep orange and has complete inner black band.
Outer black band is unbroken. Lynn Scott image. |
| Catocala mira;
Wonderful Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale fw basal area distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi and
blandula. Considerable brown in subterminal area,
subreniform spot very conspicuous, usually brown.
Light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot.
Noticeable space along im between
am and pm lines. Hw deep orange, complete inner black band.
Outer black band unbroken
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8858 Catocala crataegi as subspecies 1;
Hawthorn Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
Determination based on dark (black) shading in forewing basal
area continuing along inner margin to anal angle and brown shading
beyond postmedial line. Definite greenish cast to
median area.
Hw outer black band, broken near anal angle,
distinguishing crataegi from blandula.
Tim Dyson image. |
 |
** 8844 amestris;
Three-staff Underwing; wingspan 43-50mm.
There is a large pale patch near the apex.
In form "westcotti" the hindwing outer black band is complete.
In other moths, the band is broken as in abbreviatella.
Hindwing ground colour is usually deeper yellow-orange than in
similar species. Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8772 clintoni;
Clinton's Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm.
The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and
abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash.
Vernon Brou image.
|
| ** 8875 C. grisatra;
Grisatra Underwing, wingspan 48-55mm.
Fws make it look like miniature ulalume.
Fws bluish grey with darker anal dash, wide arc from reniform spot to om.
Hw median band incomplete loop. Uncommon and very local in its limited range.
Yes, in coastal plain.
|
Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia;
Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
Fws typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very
dark inner margin and characteristic light brown patch, underscored
by very dark arc, near wingtip.
Underwings can be yellow to orange to salmon.
|
| ** 8857 Catocala ultronia form lucinda;
Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In form lucinda most of the forewing
is bright grey. On all forms there is
extensive orange-salmon colouration on hw ventral surface,
and there is a dark discal lunule.
|
| Catocala ultronia,
form nigrescens, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm.
In the melanic form nigrescens, the dorsal forewing is very dark.
Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle are still visible.
Dark basal hairs on hindwing.
Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son.
|
|
In form celia there is a wide, light grey band separating a dark region along inner margin and
a dark patch near the apex.
The ventral surface of forewings of all forms has a generous suffusion
of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area.
|
| ** 8774
muliercula;
Little Wife Underwing, 54-70mm.
The black bands of the hindwings tend to be very wide and there is
considerable dark scaling along the inner margins. Hw
fringe is very dark as is the general reddish-brown ground colour of the forewings.
The forewing apex is preceded along the costa by a lighter,
grey-brown patch.
Steve Walter image.
|
|
** 8779 serena
Serene Underwing
Head, collar and abdomen brown while thorax is grey.
Am and pm lines thin but very dark, distinct on an
otherwise drab, almost uniformly olive-grey fw.
Black marginal band of hws indented at center,
and relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels this
indentation. Basal hairs brown.
|
| #8778 Catocala habilis;
wingspan: 55-65mm
Note large "M" on thorax and
"pork chop" shaped, light coloured subreniform spot that becomes very
dark in its constriction at juncture with pml. Pm
line narrow but dark, distinct, outwardly lined with
narrow suffusion of white scales, followed by broader band of brown
scales, then another broader suffusion of white scales up to
very regular dentation of subterminal line.
Significant "bleeding" of yellow-orange to salmon scales into
hw fringes. ??????
|
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
; wingspan: 60-70mm:
Subreniform spot closed, does not approach pml, smaller than in C. habilis.
All forms have characteristic orange, heavily barred fringe to
apex, and irregular bands on hws. Hw basal median
area heavily suffused with dark brown to black scales.
Dark bar in outer half of median area,
paralleling im halfway between
im and light, closed subreniform spot.
Joe Garris photo.
|
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
form phalanga; wingspan: 60-70mm:
In this form, fw basal area and subterminal
area very dark against much lighter background.
Dark bar in outer half of
median area, paralleling the inner margin halfway between
inner margin and light, closed subreniform spot is especially
evident. Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens;
Betrothed; 55-72mm.
Forewing is mottled with white, grey and brown, and
subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is
sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from
middle of basal/thorax connection to just below much lighter
apex at outer margin.
Jim Vargo image. |
| ** 8770
Catocala innubens form scintillans;
Betrothed; 55-72mm.
In form scintillans most of the basal area (all but lower third) and all of the median area of the forewing is dark reddish brown.
The area outside the pm line is grey.
Vernon A Brou image. |
| ** 8851
Catocala coccinata;
Scarlet; 57-70mm:
Diffuse basal and anal dashes on light
grey, mottled fw.
Hw fringe white (often with some salmon scaling),
heavily checked.
"Tooth" below pair of elongated "teeth"
much reduced, quite rounded, allowing considerable room
for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax.
Reniform spot tends be to light, often with greenish cast.
Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8840
Catocala delilah;
Delilah, wingspan: 60-65mm.
Fw gray-brown with prominent black am
and pm lines. Hw yellow-orange, narrow
inner black band reaching im. Large
yellow spot at apex, fringe faintly barred.
Ventrally deep yellow with black bands. probably not
|
| ** 8840
Catocala illecta;
Magdalen Underwing, wingspan: 60-70mm.
Fw pattern and colouration much like concumbens,
pale grey with faint black lines.
Hws light yellow. Irregular inner black band
terminates well before im. James K. Adams image.
|
| ** 8772 Catocala consors WO;
Consort, wingspan: 70mm plus.
Fw with irregular am and pm narrow black lines. Dark patch
outside the reniform and subreniform spots.
The orange-yellow hindwing pm band tends to be narrow and
irregularly zigzagged. Sometimes the band is wider and slightly less
irregular. James K. Adams image. probably
|
Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired
Catocala robinsoni 70-80; Robinson's Underwing yes
|
Catocala miranda,
Miranda Underwing, (wingspan: 37-45mm).
Fw plain pale grey with very light and fine black lines, darker and wider near costa.Hw black with white fringe at apex,
turning to grey along om.
Miranda smaller than orba; miranda has dark bar just above im in median area, projecting toward anal angle.
|
|
Catocala orba,
Orba Underwing, (wingspan: 40-45mm).
Fw uniform grey with light lines and poorly defined spots.
Hw underside completely black. Hw fringe unbroken, slightly off white, somewhat grey.
|
|
Catocala andromedae,
Gloomy Underwing, (wingspan: 40-50mm).
Black underwings and dark grey fringe of hws,
dark inner margin of fws help to identify
this species. Very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining
subreniform spot to midpoint of am line.
"Teeth" of pm line are short, blunt,
outwardly edged with white. Subterminal line outwardly
edged with white.
Full size Dirk Bayer photo.
|
| ** 8781
judith,
Judith's Underwing, (wingspan: 45-55mm), yes,
small "black" underwing. FW uniform
light grey with thin, only slightly darkened am, median
and pml lines. No darkened dashes (slight anal dash)
or transverse lines. Reniform area slightly darkened while
area just before subterminal line is bit lighter. Note absence of
hw white fringe. Joe Garris photo. yes
|
| ** 8782
Catocala flebilis ;
Mournful, wingspan: 54-65mm.
Diffuse black band runs from basal area to
outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey
subreniform spot. Reniform spot filled with brown,
additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash
as in angusi. Hws have white fringe.
|
| ** 8773
Catocala epione , yes;
Epione Underwing, wingspan: 55-65mm
Pm line squared with brown band, then light band
just outside
line. Hw black with pure white fringe
with no barring.
John Himmelman image.
|
| Catocala dejecta,
(wingspan: 56-73mm; Hodge #8790).
Dejected Underwing quite similar to Catocala retecta.
Light coloured subreniform spot open, but has
distinct "pork-chop" shape, separates much darker median area
below subreniform spot from very light area to costa
above spot. The lower 1/4 of submarginal area is
much darker in C. dejecta than in C. retecta.
|
|
Catocala retecta;
wingspan: 60-75mm
Note light coloured, elongated, open subreniform spot
interrupting dark, diffuse ark running through center of
wing from basal area (body-wing juncture) to fw
apex. Center of reniform spot brown, brown
area just below costa running to imjust outside e pm
line. Off-white hw fringe lightly checked along
veins.
Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8784
obscura;
the Obscure Underwing, (wingspan: 60-72mm),
has dull, grey forewings, usually void of any significant dashes,
streaks, providing for easy identification. Am, median
and pm lines faint and subterminal line
region is only slightly paler than rest of fw.
Hw fringe is off-white, lightly checked on veins.
Joe Garris photo.
|
|
Catocala residua;
Residua Underwing, (wingspan: 60-73mm),
distinguished from Catocala obscura by grey hw
fringe of residua.
Catocala obscura has white to off-white fringe and tends to be
less common in northern portions of its range. Fw
subterminal line/area of Catocala residua tends to be pale as
is its open, elongated subreniform spot.
Like C. obscura it is otherwise devoid of significant markings
except for hint of dark bar running from basal area
through reniform spot to o. m. just below apex.
|
| Catocala ulalume,
Ulalume Underwing, (wingspan: 65mm).
Fw mottled light to dark grey, no strongly contrasting lines, dashes, bars. Aml ends at im in very light coloured
crescent, close to pml. Open subrenifrom spot light coloured, "comma" shaped with triangular and somewhat bulbous head.
Aml has short, thin, slightly humped dark line through midpoint. Hw black, fringe pure white, thin,
pointed checking.
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm. Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas. Reniform spot: light brown filling.
Hw fringe black except for white region at apex.
James K. Adams image.
|
| ** 8783 Catocala angusi
WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas. Reniform spot: light brown filling.
Hw fringe black except for white region at apex.
Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to
om, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots.
James K. Adams image.
|
| Catocala sappho,
Underwing, (wingspan: 62-75mm),
Forewings are off white with some grey-black-brown peppering and yellow-beige lines.
The reniform spot is brown and the subreniform spot is almost pure white; the hindwings are black with a white fringe.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, wingspan: 60-82mm
Fw highly variable with mix of black, brown
(wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling.
Usually whitish crescents, along im at
base of am and pm lines.
Hws black with white checkered fringe, turning black
near anal angle.
|
| ** 8791
Catocala insolabilis;
Inconsolable, wingspan: 65-75mm.
Fwlight grey with blackish shading along im. Am and pm lines thin.
Hw fringe very narrow, grey, becoming whiter toward
apex.
Ventral surface distinguishes insolabis, being almost
completely black except for some white in basal area.
Vernon A. Brou image. ?????????
|
| Catocala luctuosa,
Underwing, (wingspan: 70mm).
Fw light grey (yellowish tint) clearly marked with a basal dash that continues with another dash through the
am line, followed by another anal dash almost forming bar parallel to im.
Hw fringe white, lightly barred at veins.
Fw pml "teeth" elongated and dark, continuing dark dar emanating from om just below apex.
|
| ** 8780
Catocala robinsoni;
70-80mm.
Fws relatively plain pale grey.
Female has basal dash, absent in male.
Currata French, 1882, female form: weak basal dash.
Rare form missouriensis Schwarz, 1915: dark, broad bar
extending from basal area to o.m. just below
apex. Lighter grey rnfm, subrnfm spots break bar
in missouriensis, found from PA. to FL.
Hw fringe: White; bands on ventral surface prominent.
|
| ** 8792
Catocala vidua;
Widow; wingspan: 70-80mm.
Fw light grey.
Dark arc running through top of reniform spot
to just below apex. Heavy, dark anal and basal
dashes, connecting to dark median bar, running parallel to im.
Am line thick and black in its upper half.
Reniform spot with two almost
concentric irregular ovals.
Subreniform spot light, open, but constricted as it
meets pm line.
Hw black with broad, white fringe, only lightly
interrupted.
Marie Winn image. |
| Catocala agrippina,
Underwing, (wingspan: 75-85mm).
Head and body blackish grey (dorsal) and greyish white (ventral). Male fws grey-black with some reddish brown
(distinguishing characteristic); transverse lines black, darker toward costa, lighter near im.
Reniform indistinct, brown, sub-reniform almost obsolete, lighter than surrounding areas.
|
| ** 8793
Catocala maestosa;
Sad Underwing, wingspan: 78-98mm.
Similar to, but usually larger than, vidua.
Both have dark arc from costa, above reniform spot, to
om just below apex. Maesotsa, however, lacks
dark bar, found on vidua, parallel to im.
Reniform spot brown, brown shading just outside
pml line.
Hw fringe white, narrow and heavily barred.
|
Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm
| ** 8802
Catocala cerogama;
Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm.
Several different forms. Pm line distinct, dark
and has elongate pair of projections. Pm and am lines meet inner
margin in relative proximity. Closed subreniform spot
lighter than surrounding areas, shaped a bit like an
arrowhead with point toward body. Hws are
distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image. |
|
Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
|
Form bunkeri: Forewings are dark in median and basal areas.
Hw golden band is reduced in thickness. Basal hairs are brown instead of yellow.
The hindwings are
distinctive. Tim Dyson image. |
Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm
| ** 8801
Catocala ilia; Ilia;
wingspan: 65-82mm.
Several different forms,
most have characteristic white area in and around
reniform spot. Diffuse dark arc running from this
spot to just below apex. Subreniform spot squarish, concave inner and 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.
|
| ** 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.
|
| ** 8857.1
Catocala umbrosa;
mm;
Double brown am line, inward line fainter, filled with off white; reniform spot brown
center outlined in black , off white and black again; subreniform, large, pale brown, closed.
Pm line wit htwo elongated upper teeth, next tooth reduced, next two progressively longer, rounded,
final lobe rounded and shorter. HW with dark scaling/hairs in basal median area along im
|
| ** 8771 Catocala piatrix ;
Penitent, wingspan: 68-84mm.
Fw: light-colored band/bar extending from light coloured, triangular
subreniform spot along am line to costa. Brown, kidney-shaped reniform spot surrounded in pale grey, outlined in black,
usually with distinct black along wing veins in a dark area outside the reniform spot.
Hw: fringe lightly barred; lighter in color
than deeper orange on rest of wing.
|
Catocala piatrix, Caldwell County, October 24, 2009, Aubrey Scott.
| ** 8798 Catocala neogama;
wingspan 70-85mm.
Brown head, thorax, larger size as compared to
C. palaeogama. Neogama tend to be slightly smaller
than subnata, have darker grey brown fws with more
pronounced markings. Examination of hind tibia needed
for id. Neogama's: flattened,
unevenly, sparsely spined; subnata's: cylindrical,
spines dense, uniform in distribution.
Joe Garris photo.
|
| ** 8797 Catocala subnata;
Youthful Underwing: 75-90mm.
Fws greyish white with blue-grey and light brown scales,
usually with hws brighter
yellow than those of neogama. Neogama usually
have basal dash; absent in male subnata, but present in females.
Magnification of hind tibia needed for id:
subnata: cylindrical hind tibia;
neogama: compressed or flattened hind tibia.
subnata: ventral surface of tibia densely covered with evenly
distributed spines;
neogama: ventral surface of tibia sparsely covered.
|
| ** 8796 Catocala nebulosa;
Clouded; wingspan 75-86mm
Prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends
to and ends at am line. Apical area tends to be
brown, much darker than median area but not as dark as basal patch.
Anal angle also has darker brown scaling.
Pm line distinct near costa and im, becoming
weak between the two. It meets im in relative close
proximity to am line.
Closed subreniform spot large, connects to
pm line via thin line.
|
| ** 8804 C. marmorata;
Marbled; wingspan 85-95mm
Dark fw arc runs from costa down through reniform spot to outer margin just below apex.
The subrenifrom spot is light, is bordered inwardly above by a white patch, and is
connected to the pm line by a line rather than being open.
|
Catocala marmorata, Boone, Watauga County, September 8, 2011, Eric Smith
Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm
| ** 8833 concumbens
Sleepy Underwing or
Pink Underwing; 60-75mm.
This brown thoracic collar is quite evident in this image as is the
interruption in the pm line by the open subreniform spot.
The white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked
on the wing veins. The vibrant pink bans are
distinct in colour and also in their relatively smooth contour.
|
| ** 8832 Catocala cara;
Darling; wingspan 70-85mm.
Deep maroon almost purple cast to fws, mixed with
very pale green. Lower half of am and pm lines barely
visible. No distinctive bars or dashes. Two upper
"teeth" on pm line thin and long.
Hw bands pink. Heavy black checking on
off-white hw fringe. Relatively thick black hw median band almost reaches im which is usually heavily
adorned with dark hairs.
Tim Dyson image.
|
| ** Catocala carissima;
wingspan 70-85mm. Distinct light grey brown area at fw apex, preceded just inside pm line by slightly darker patch.
Am and pm lines sharp and dark.
Hw inner black band wide, complete, merges with extensive grey-black scaling along im. Hw fringe cream coloured.
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** 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.
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|
** 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.
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|
** 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.
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