| 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.
|
| **8878 Catocala alabamae;
Alabama Underwing; 30-40mm;
Uniform greenish-grey fw may have thin but dark (contrasting) lines or they may be nearly absent
(titania); alabamae often with dash in median/anal angle area, missing or nearly absent in titania.
Brown shading between pm line/subterminal line. Hw inner black band thin, outer
band thick, truncated before being followed by large black dot. Early flight season.
|
Catocala alabamae, Liberty, Liberty County, June 7, 2013, Stuart Marcus
| **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.
|
| 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.
|
| ** 8874 Catocala minuta TM;
Little Underwing, 35-45mm;
Fw grey-brown, greatly widened, white, st line
(near costa only).
Hw outer black band unbroken, inner band
in complete loop, brown scaling along
im.
"eureka" Schwarz: blackish area between am,pm lines;
"hiseri" Cassino: dull grey fw, very faint markings;
"mellitula" Hulst: blackish patch in basal area from costa to
im;
"obliterata" Schwarz: melanic form, almost completely
black fw;
"parvula" W. H. Edwards: broad dark patch along fw i. m..
|
| ** 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 much beyond
reniform anteriorally at right angle to subreniform line.
Many specimens have small, light coloured, flattened oval spot
about halfway between pm/ am lines near midpoint of
reniform spot. Pm line almost straight for most of
length.
|
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form gisela,
the Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
The usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. There is usually a darkened band passing from
the costa through the reniform spot to the outer margin.
Form "gisela" Meyer has a forewing that is mostly black.
Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8876 Catocala micronympha
form hero,
the Little Nymph Underwing, (wingspan: 35-50mm).
The usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown,
black and white tints. There is 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,
the 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,
the 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, forewings with
white ground colour and sharply contrasting black lines and markings.
Brown shading between post medial and subterminal
lines; "cordelia": coloured as above but markings are
faint; "pulverulenta": grey-green forewings with faint
markings, sometimes none;
"broweri": melanic form with fws dark
green, almost black.
Hw has separate anal spot and outer band ends with
straight cut.
Leroy Simon image.
|
| ** 8848 bastropi,
Bastroph Underwing, (wingspan: 40mm).
There is a distinct white "smile" (in spread specimens) between the reniform and subreniform spots.
There is also a narrow but distinct white line immediately following the black postmedial line.
Hw deep yellow orange, outer black band interrupted,
followed by dot, ending before im. replaces (2017) louiseae in Texas
|
| ** 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.
|
| ** 8772 gracilis;
Graceful Underwing, wingspan 40-45mm.
Gracilis closely resembles sordida but the hindwing loop is not complete in gracilis as it is in sordida. Gracilis also tends to have a darker
inner margin and there is frequently (99% of the time, Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris), but not always, a basal dash. Sordida never has the basal dash.
|
| ** 8864 Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm:
The forewing is a dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along
the inner margin. The antemedial, median and postmedial lines are
quite faint.
Praeclara is somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading
between the am and pm lines. Praeclara also has a paler orange
hindwing color.
Tim Dyson image. |
| Catocala pretiosa
Precious Underwing; 40-50mm;
Median area quite light with wide whitish band paralleling am line from costa almost to
inner margin. Subreniform spot 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.
C. pretiosa texarkana is now a synonym of Catocala pretiosa.
|
Catocala pretiosa, Trinity River Refuge, Liberty County, April 11, 2020, Stuart Marcos
| ** 8865
praeclara; Praeclara Underwing, (40-50mm);
The forewing is a pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting
brown shading beyond post medial line.
There is a black basal dash very close to the inner margin and
another dash, higher up in the median area.
Note the contrasting shapes of the reniform and subreniform spots.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 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.
|
| ** 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.
|
Catocala clintoni, Trinity River Refuge, Liberty County, Texas, April 11, 2020, Stuart Marcos
| ** 8867 Catocala blandula;
Charming Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw has dark contrasting lines as in crataegi.
There is also considerable brown in subterminal area
and subreniform spot is very conspicuous and usually brown. A
light area runs obliquely from the costa to the subreniform spot.
hw is deep orange and has a complete inner black band.
The outer black band is unbroken.
Lynn Scott image. |
| Catocala mira;
Wonderful Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm.
Pale basal area of fw distinguishes mira from
blandula (dark brown) and crataegi (black).
Fw lacks dark contrasting lines of crataegi and
blandula. Considerable brown in subterminal area
and subreniform spot very conspicuous, usually brown.
Light area runs obliquely from costa to subreniform spot.
Noticeable space along i. m. between
antemedial and postmedial lines.
Hw deep orange and has a complete inner black band.
The outer black band is unbroken
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 8858
Catocala crataegi as subspecies 1;
Hawthorn Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
Determination is 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.
Lower wing has outer black band, broken near anal angle,
distinguishing crataegi from blandula.
|
| ** 8858 Catocala nuptialis TM;
Married Underwing, wingspan: 40-50mm
The reniform spot is very dark, black or almost black on an otherwise faintly marked, almost uniformly grey forewing.
The outer black margin of the hindwing is unbroken, but is indented near the anal angle.
Jim Vargo image.
|
| ** 8841 Catocala abbreviatella;
Abbreviated Underwing; 40-50mm.
Fw uniformly colored with narrow black lines on
anterior half. Brown reniform spot ringed with black.
Hw outer black band abbreviated and then
continued with dot. Inner black band terminates well
before im.
Similar species: C. nuptialis solid black
reniform spot. C. whitneyi broad dark triangles mid
fw. |
 |
** 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.
|
| Catocala delilah; 58-65;
The forewing is gray-brown with prominent black antemedial
and postmedial lines. The hindwing is yellow-orange, with a narrow
inner black band which reaches the inner margin. There is a large
yellow spot at the apex, and the fringe is faintly barred.
The underside of the wings is deep yellow with black bands.
|
| 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.
|
| ** 8774
muliercula;
Little Wife Underwing, wingspan 54-70mm:
Hw black bands 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.
Fw apex preceded along costa by a lighter,
grey-brown patch.
Steve Walter 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.
|
Catocala consors, May 8, 2012, San Antonio, Bexar County, Dan Sundberg
Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm
|
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. Note orange hw fringe.
|
| ** 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.
|
| 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. ???
|
| ** 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. |
| ** 8808 luciana;
Luciana Underwing, 57-68mm.
Pale grey brown forewing with very distinct am
& postmedial lines.
Subreniform spot has elongated narrow "tail" that seems to
open through postmedial line.
Inner black band of hw does not reach inner margin.
Fringe is checked and paler (almost yellow) than
salmon ground colour.
|
| ** 8840
Catocala illecta;
Magdalen Underwing, 60-70mm;
Fw pattern and colouration much like that of concumbens,
pale grey with faint black lines.
Hws light yellow to orange; the irregular inner black band
terminates well before inner margin. James K. Adams image.
|
| 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).
|
| #8795 Catocala palaeogama
; wingspan: 60-70mm.
Subreniform spot closed, does not approach pm line,
is 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 i. m. halfway between
i. m. 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 are very dark against a much lighter background.
Dark bar in the outer half of the
median area, paralleling the inner margin halfway between
the inner margin and the light, closed subreniform spot is especially
evident. Joe Garris image.
|
| ** 8851
Catocala coccinata;
Scarlet; 57-70mm.
Usually diffuse basal, anal dashes on otherwise light
grey, mottled fw.
Hw fringe white (often with some salmon scaling),
heavily checked.
"Tooth" just below pair of very elongated "teeth" is
much reduced, quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room
for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax.
Reniform spot light, often with greenish cast.
Joe Garris image.
|
Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired
|
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,
coupled with dark inner margin of forewings help to identify
this species. There is also a very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining
subreniform spot to midpoint of am line.
The "teeth" of pm line short and blunt,
outwardly edged with white. Subterminal line is also outwardly
edged with white.
|
| ** 8782 Catocala flebilis, yes;
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 is filled with brown; there is
additional brown outside postmedial line. No anal dash
as there is in angusi. The hindwings have white fringe. J. K. Adams
image.
|
| ** 8773
Catocala epione , yes;
Epione Underwing, wingspan: 55-65mm
The pm line is squared and has a brown band and then a light band
just outside the line. The hindwing is black with pure white fringe
with no barring.
John Himmelman image.
|
Catocala epione, May 8, 2012, San Antonio, Bexar County, Dan Sundberg
| 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, somewhat bulbous head.
Aml: short, thin, slightly humped dark line through midpoint. Hw black, fringe pure white, thin,
pointed checking.
|
|
Catocala dejecta;
Dejected; wingspan 56-73mm. Pale grey patch
from reniform and subreniform juncture to costal margin is
diagnostic. Note open, light "pork chop" shape of subreniform spot.
Two "teeth" in pml above subreniform spot are relatively
short and blunt. Upper portion of aml thick and black;
lower half has light rounded lobes outlined in black.
Hw fringe is white with black wing veins extending
like "teeth".
|
|
|
Catocala dejecta;
Dejected; wingspan 56-73mm. Pale grey patch
from reniform and subreniform juncture to costal margin is
diagnostic. Note open, light "pork chop" shape of subreniform spot.
Two "teeth" in pml above subreniform spot are relatively
short and blunt. Upper portion of aml thick and black;
lower half has light rounded lobes outlined in black.
Hw fringe is white with black wing veins extending
like "teeth".
|
| 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, 60-82mm.
The forewing is highly variable with a mixture of black, brown
(wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling.
There are usually whitish crescents, along the inner margin at the
base of the antemedial and postmedial lines.
The hindwings are black with white checkered fringe, turning black
near the anal angle. There are several different forms.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm.
Form paulina: lighter grey post median area & area along and parallel to inner margin, in sharp contrast to
darker basal median areas.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm.
In form evelina there is a wide black band along the forewing inner margin.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm;; GSMNP/TP/WAM/KC.
In form albomarginata there is an abundance of white scaling on the forewing.
|
| ** 8794
Catocala lacrymosa;
Tearful Underwing, 60-82mm;; TP.
Form "zelica", has black basal patch and strong black subterminal line.
|
| ** 8791
Catocala insolabilis;
Inconsolable, wingspan: 65-75mm;
Fw light grey with blackish shading along inner
margin. Antemedial and postmedial lines are thin.
Hw fringe very narrow and grey, becoming whiter toward
apex.
Ventral surface clearly distinguishes insolabis, being almost
completely black except for some white in basal area.
Vernon A. Brou image.
|
| Catocala atocala,
Underwing, (wingspan: approximately 70-75mm).
Similar to agrippina, but reniform is more clearly defined in atocala. Closed subreniform of atocala
may be open or closed in agrippina. Distinct basal dash of agrippina females
is nearly absent in atocala females. Hw undersurface white areas on
agrippina are beige on atocala. Hw bulge (discal spot) on atocala, is
not present on agrippina.
|
| **
Catocala myristica;
slightly smaller than robinsonii, myristica has a browner cell spot and a darker
bottom line on the longest extension of the pm line near the inner margin.
Probably only in Black Belt on nutmeg hickory. unconfirmed
|
| **
Catocala myristica;
slightly smaller than robinsonii, myristica has a browner cell spot and a darker
bottom line on the longest extension of the pm line near the inner margin. Dark bar very prominent but does not intrude on cell mark, nor present
along inner edge of reniform spot. Also note absence of upper black line inside reniform spot. unconfirmed
|
| 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.
|
| ** 8792
Catocala vidua;
Widow; 70-80mm.
Fw ground colour light grey.
Distinguishing dark arc runs through top of reniform spot
to just below apex. Heavy, dark anal and basal
dashes, connecting to dark median bar, running parallel to i. m.
Am line thick, black in its upper half.
Reniform spot with two almost
concentric irregular ovals.
Subreniform spot light, open, constricted as it
meets pm line.
Hw black with broad, white fringe, lightly
interrupted.
Marie Winn image. |
| ** 8793
Catocala maestosa,
Sad Underwing, wingspan: 78-98mm.
Maesotsa is quite similar to, although usually larger than, vidua.
Both have the dark arc from the costa, above the reniform spot, to
the outer margin just below the apex. Maesotsa, however, lacks the
dark bar, found on vidua, parallel to the inner margin.
The reniform spot is brown and there is brown shading just outside
the postmedial line.
The hindwing fringe is white, narrow and heavily barred.
|
Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm
| ** 8822
meskei; Meske's Underwing;
65-75mm.
Fws less distinctly marked compared to unijuga,
some red-orange at the hindwing apex and just inside the
fringe along the outer margin in meskei that is lacking in unijuga.
Fw subreniform spot is opened or connected to the
postmedian line. The hindwing postmedian band nearly straight,
turned in and tapering near anal angle.
Tim Dyson image. |
| ** 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.
|
| 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.
|
| ** 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.
|
| Catocala texanae; 85mm;
The forewings are a mottled grey-brown with indistinct lines.
The inner black band of the hindwing is very narrow and comes to a
point far short of the inner margin. The hindwing fringe is
mostly white with some red-orange at the apex.
|
| ** 8857.1
Catocala umbrosa;
70-77mm;
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 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.
|
| ** 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. maybe ??
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| Catocala texanae; 85mm;
The forewings are a mottled grey-brown with indistinct lines.
The inner black band of the hindwing is very narrow and comes to a
point far short of the inner margin. The hindwing fringe is
mostly white with some red-orange at the apex.
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| 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.
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| Catocala nebulosa;
Moths have prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends
to and ends at antemedial line. Apical area also tends to be
brown, much darker than median area but not as dark as basal patch.
The anal angle also has the darker brown scaling.
The pm line is distinct near costa and inner margin, but becomes
weak between the two. It meets inner margin in relative close
proximity to am line.
Closed subreniform spot is large and connects to the
pm line via a thin line.
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Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm
| ** 8832 Catocala cara;
Darling; 70-85mm.
Note deep maroon almost purple cast to fws, mixed with
very pale green. Lower half of am & pm lines is barely
visible. There are no distinctive bars or dashes. The two upper
"teeth" on the pm line are thin and long.
The hindwing bands are pink. There is heavy black checking on the
off-white hindwing fringe. The relatively thick black median band of the
hindwing almost reaches the inner margin which is usually heavily
adorned with dark hairs.
Tim Dyson image.
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| ** 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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