One member in a complex of small yellow-hindwinged Catocala, which includes 3 described species amica, lineella and jair, as well as at least one and perhaps more undescribed species. Both amica and lineella are widespread and abundant as adults, and also frequently encountered as larvae; jair is less often found and is more habitat restricted (oak scrubs and barrens; but it can be common where it occurs). Larvae of amica often have a lighter tan ground color compared to the darker steely and purplish-tinged ground color of lineella, especially from A5 toward the anterior; in amica the dorsal tubercles are usually black with more limited orange than in lineella; many larvae cannot be confidently assigned to species without the reared adult. In comparision, larvae of jair are more uniformly light gray with less prominent markings. A number of Quercus are recorded as wild foodplants; larvae of amica more often use "white" oaks (Section Quercus) and lineella more often use "red" oaks (Section Lobatae), but there is considerable overlap.