Underwing Moths (Catocala) & Larvae

A companion guide for iNaturalists

Nearctic Species

   

Publications

Taxonomic Notes

Rearing:
Wild larvae
Eggs from females

iNat Wishlist:
ilia vs. umbrosa
Larvae on Rosaceae
mtDNA: praeclara

More About: Maps & images
The authors

Catocala alabamae
Grote, 1875

Often encountered small Rosaceae-feeding Catocala larva across the southern USA. Highly variable, even among siblings, in both color/maculation (tan, gray, brownish, speckled) and A5 horn (nearly absent to quite large, black, orange, gray, red, purplish) and hence tough to separate from other species.... but not an unreasonable first guess in the south for larva without corresponding reared adult. Recorded wild foodplants include several species of Crataegus. (Note disjunct and closely clustered historical records for "titania"-like adults in NJ, DE, PA all dated 1964 to 1971, perhaps a colonization / transplant event from the core midwestern distribution that held for a period of time).

All images at this site by L. Gall and/or R. Borth (unless otherwise attributed), please contact us with questions or requests