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 ulalume
Strecker, 1878

Among the several dozen Juglandaceae-feeding Catocala species, only sappho and ulalume are known to have strongly lichen-mimic forms. This may be the only larval form for sappho and strikingly so, whereas ulalume can appear more subdued. Little is known of their biology but older (1986) ex ovis rearings from single females of each species offers the following: larvae of both with head capsules with light reddish gray markings, thin/minimal mandibular dash, trace of lateral dash above the ocelli; interrupted dark banding subdorsally on body, small blackish dots ventrally on A1-A4. Lateral filaments tend to be short and sparse in sappho and longer and more dense in ulalume; A5 saddle patch essentially lacking in sappho and present to some extent in ulalume; lateral band on body mostly connected among segments in sappho and forming an "oscillating" line, more interrupted in ulalume; stippling on body in sappho mostly coalesced into distinct areas (note vague grayish "shadow band" between typical subdorsal and lateral bands), the stippling in ulalume more generalized throughout. The above descriptions are based in part on preserved mature larvae from each 1986 ex ovis rearing (n=3 sappho, n=5 ulalume). Larval foodplants in the lab for both are only Carya (Eucarya) hickories, ulalume recorded from Carya tomentosa in Florida. More information highly desirable for both species!

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