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 orba
Kusnezov, 1903

Catocala orba is distinctly southern in distribution, and its larva is the only small Rosaceae-feeding species with a consistently blackened head capsule face, often with all other pattern essentially obliterated; in lateral view, the heavy black forms a distinct margin with the ground color from the vertex down. Lateral filaments dense, long, and multifurcate; A5 horn stubby and conical. Larvae of orba typically also present with conspicuous wide black dorsal spots, an uncommon feature in larvae of other Rosaceae-feeding species. All wild larval records from various Crataegus.

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