Catocala retecta
Grote, 1872
The following two-character head capsule key/preamble for 11 Juglandaceae-feeding Catocala should help you
navigate to
the right set of species.
Black bar above mandibles and labrum ("moustache") pronounced in
flebilis,
insolabilis,
luctuosa,
myristica,
retecta,
vidua; only modestly so in
dejecta,
nebulosa,
subnata; absent to trace only in
lacrymosa,
palaeogama.
Moustache extends laterally up the capsule sides beyond S1/S2 (highest eyes) substantially so in
flebilis,
luctuosa,
retecta; modestly so in
vidua; not or nominally so in
dejecta,
insolabilis,
lacrymosa,
myristica,
nebulosa,
palaeogama,
subnata.
Lateral "moustache" head capsule extensions by far the longest in both
retecta and
luctuosa
among the 11 species; both have
long and dense lateral filaments providing quick separation from the otherwise
generally similar
flebilis
(filaments lacking or wanting).
Extensions in
retecta
usually tapering approaching the dorsal part of capsule lobe and
not particularly wide overall, whereas extensions in
luctuosa
apparently much wider and can span
the vertices; possible species distinction, but relatively small number of luctuosa
larvae hampers assessment of variation.
Dorsal and lateral ground color variable but typically grey to brownish grey with varying darker striping; A5 patch usually
darker, minimal A5 dorsal bump and A8 tubercles. Venter ground color whitish,
spots outlined with purplish/orangish especially A3-A6. Pinacula whitish often with yellow/orange infiltration;
tendency on many segments for capitad pinaculum to be whiter and anad pinaculum to be more colored
(pattern also occurs in
nebulosa).
Foodplants Carya (Section Eucarya) hickories for retecta with records of wild larvae/ovipositions on
Carya ovata (n > 170), C. tomentosa (n=7) and C. glabra (n=16); one wild larva also from Juglans.
Native foodplant for luctuosa not yet known, but almost certainly Carya (Section Eucarya) which
are readily consumed in indoor rearing conditions.
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