Catocala
Catocala larvae from Eastern North America. There are approximately 80 named species in Eastern North America. Some do not have any reference photos for caterpillars (larvae). Available larval photos are posted with the individual species listed under Larva (caterpillars).
Notes for much information on this page summarized from Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America pp. 97-142
For a better chance at having a Catocala larva identified take photos of head (front) view, top view of entire larva, dorsal view, ventral view. Also note host plant/tree as these caterpillars have specialized diets.
Detailed information about each species is available by clicking on name which links to iNaturalist page with distribution maps, seasonality charts, food plants, and much more.
Legume-feeding (Fabaceae) feeders
Catocala amestris - Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha canescens
Catocala abbreviatella - Amorpha canescens
Catocala illecta - Honey locust
Catocala innubens - Honey locust
Catocala minuta - Honey locust, including water locust
Catocala nuptialis - Amorpha species, esp. Amorpha fruticosa
Catocala whitneyi - Amorpha canescens
Gale- and Sweet fern-feeding (Myricaceae) feeders
Catocala antinympha - Sweet fern and sweet gale
Catocala badia - Bayberry (Morella (=Myrica) pennsylvanica)
Catocala badia coelebs - Myrica gale (usually)
Catocala muliercula - Wax myrtle, Bayberry
Hickory and walnut (Juglandaceae) feeders
Catocala epione
Catocala flebilis
Catocala neogama
Catocala obscura - Shagbark hickory
Catocala palaeogama
Catocala serena - Shagbark hickory
Catocala vidua
Catocala agrippina (pecan, water pecan, and perhaps other Apocarya hickories)
Catocala angusi - shagbark hickory
Catocala atocala (nutmeg hickory)
Catocala consors (hickory, at least black and scrub; sand hickory likely)
Catocala dejecta (Carya hickories)
Catocala insolabilis - (hickory, especially pignut in Florida)
Catocala habilis - shagbark hickory
Catocala judith - shagbark hickory
Catocala lacrymosa - Carya hickories
Catocala luctuosa -
Catocala maestosa - Pecan, other section Apocarya hickories, and walnut
Catocala piatrix - Mostly black walnut, pecan and other section Apocarya hickories
Catocala nebulosa - Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)
Catocala residua - Shagbark hickory
Catocala retecta - Shagbark and other section Carya hickories
Catocala robinsonii - Shagbark and perhaps shellbark hickories
Catocala sappho - Pignut and probably other section Carya hickories
Catocala subnata - Bitternut hickory
Catocala ulalume - Hickory
Willow and poplar (Salicaceae) feeders
Catocala cara - Willow, including nonnative species like weeping willow (Salix babylonica); especially black willow (S. nigra)
Catocala concumbens - Willow and Poplar
Catocala relicta - Aspen and other poplars, also willow
Catocala amatrix - Poplar (including cottonwoods and Lombardy), perhaps willows
Catocala briseis - Willow and probably poplar
Catocala junctura - Willow and poplar
Catocala marmorata - Principally swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla) but eastern cottonwood and willow suspected
Catocala meskei - Primarily poplars, mostly cottonwoods, including Lombardy in towns
Catocala parta - Poplar and willow
Catocala semirelicta - Poplar, especially balsam poplar eastward
Catocala unijuga - Poplar, especially quaking aspen
Catocala luciana - Poplar, willow
Oak (Fagaceae) feeders
Complex Catocala amica Girlfriend and Little Lined Underwings
Catocala amica
Catocala coccinata
Catocala ilia
Catocala connubialis
Catocala delilah
Catocala herodias
Catocala lineella
Catocala micronympha
Catocala similis
Catocala umbrosa Associated with Scrub oak in Northeast per Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America p. 130 - sister species to Catocala Ilia - Larvae may not always be separable
Ilia and Umber Underwings Complex
Blueberry (Ericaceae) feeders
Catocala andromedae - also azalea
Catocala gracilis
Catocala sordida
Catocala louiseae
Rose family (Rosaceae) feeders (apple, cherry, hawthorn, etc.)
Catocala crataegi
Catocala mira
Catocala ultronia - principally cherry and plum but also reported from apple and hawthorn
Catocala clintonii - apple, cherry, hawthorn and plum
Catocala dulciola - hawthorn
Catocala grynea - apple, crabapple, plum and related plants including European mountain ash
Catocala praeclara - chokeberry and serviceberry, also hawthorn
Catocala alabamae - hawthorn
Catocala blandula - apple, crabapple, and hawthorn
Catocala grisatra - hawthorn, especially yellowleaf hawthorn
Catocala lincolnana - hawthorns,especially parsley hawthorn
Catocala miranda - hawthorn
Catocala orba - parsley hawthorn
Basswood (Tilia) feeder
Larvae (caterpillars)
Catocala abbreviatella - Abbreviated Underwing
Catocala abbreviatella Larvae (RG)
Catocala agrippina - Agrippina Underwing
Catocala agrippina Larvae (RG) (none available yet)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/135462/bgimage
Catocala amatrix - The Sweetheart
Catocala amatrix Larvae (RG)
(tentative) - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118100852
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13432177
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225189662
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28944881
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/29697/bgimage
Catocala amestris - Three-staff Underwing
Catocala amestris - Larvae (RG)
Larvae
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/198935/bgimage
Catocala amica - Girlfriend Underwing
Catocala amica - Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Observation%20group=218805541
Complex Catocala amica (amica/lineella) - Girlfriend and Little Lined Underwings
Complex Catocala amica Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166312345
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233002445
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/32279/bgimage
Catocala antinympha - Sweetfern Underwing Moth
Catocala antinympha Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/39850/bgimage
Catocala badia - Bay Underwing
Catocala badia Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/43326/bgimage
Catocala blandula - Charming Underwing
Catocala blandula Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169106866
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118996780
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/40021/bgimage
Catocala cara - Darling Underwing
Catocala cara Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/45120/bgimage
Catocala carissima - Carissima Underwing
Catocala carissima Larvae (RG) (none available yet)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/45287/bgimage
Catocala cerogama - Yellow-banded Underwing
Catocala cerogama Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/29502/bgimage
Catocala clintoni - Clinton's Underwing
Catocala clintoni Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/543178/bgimage
Catocala coccinata - Scarlet Underwing
Catocala coccinata Larvae (RG)
(waiting for additional agreement) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118836224
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/73522/bgimage
Catocala concumbens - Pink Underwing
Catocala concumbens Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/797179/bgimage
Catocala connubialis - Connubial Underwing
Catocala connubialis Larvae (RG) ?
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/24234/bgimage
Catocala crataegi - Hawthorn Underwing
Catocala crataegi Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/25793/bgimage
Catocala dejecta - Dejected Underwing
Catocala epione - Epione Underwing
Catocala epione Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/470/bgimage
Catocala flebilis
Catocala flebilis Larvae (RG)
Catocala grynea Woody Underwing
Catocala grynea Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/26745/bgimage
Catocala habilis - Habilis Underwing
Catocala habilis Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/228891128
Catocala ilia - Ilia Underwing
Still reviewing C ilia larvae so no link yet.
Catocala Ilia-umbrosa
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/1208960/bgimage
Catocala innubens - Betrothed
Catocala innubens Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/45175/bgimage
Catocala insolabilis - Inconsolable Underwing
Catocala insolabilis Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/657366
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8791-insolabilis/
Catocala judith - Judith's Underwing
Catocala judith Larvae (RG)
Catocala luciana - Luciana Underwing Moth
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8808-luciana/
Catocala maestosa - Larvae look similar to Catocala neogama
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225548910 (includes ventral view)
https://bugguide.net/node/view/34547/bgimage
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/Catocala/catmaestosa.htm
Either C. neogama or C. maestosa ?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Species%20group=neogama%2Fmaestosa
https://massmoths.org/moths/Catocala-maestosa/
Catocala meskei - Meske's Underwing Moth
Catocala meskei Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/31089/bgimage
Catocala micronympha - Little Nymph Underwing
Catocala micronympha Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/43062604
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/1797019/bgimage
Catocala minuta - Little Underwing
Catocala minuta Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/9770/bgimage
Catocala mira - Wonderful Underwing
Catocala mira Larvae (RG) (to be added)
tentative - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220786669
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/26746/bgimage
Catocala nebulosa - Clouded Underwing
Catocala nebulosa Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/168108069
Catocala neogama - The Bride
Catocala neogama Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/219223648
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29172157
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/30844/bgimage
Catocala nuptialis - Married Underwing
Catocala nuptialis Larvae (RG)
Catocala obscura - Obscure Underwing
Catocala obscura Larvae (RG) (to be added)
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8784-obscura/
Catocala palaeogama - Oldwife
Catocala paleogama Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/45164/bgimage
MPG - http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8795
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8795-palaeogama/
Catocala piatrix - Penitent Underwing
Catocala piatrix Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/12300/bgimage
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8771-piatrix/
Catocala relicta - White Underwing
Catocala relicta Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/6150/bgimage
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8803-relicta/
Catocala retecta - Yellow-Gray Underwing
Catocala retecta Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/319240
Larvae (captive-reared)
MPG - http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8788
Catocala sappho - Sappho Underwing
Catocala sappho Larvae (RG)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47527878
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76800479
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115908609
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/44317065
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115907551
Catocala semirelicta - Semirelict Underwing
Catocala semirelicta
Catocala serena - Serene Underwing
Catocala serena Larvae (RG)
Catocala sordida - Sordid Underwing
Catocala sordida Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/135464/bgimage
Catocala ultronia - Ultronia Underwing
Catocala ultronia Larvae (RG)
Larvae (reared)
Larvae (reared)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/11871/bgimage
Catocala umbrosa - Umber Underwing
Catocala Umbrosa Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/166871/bgimage
Catocala unijuga - Once-married Underwing
Catocala unijuga Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/31037/bgimage
Catocala vidua - Widow
Catocala vidua Larvae (RG)
BugGuide - https://bugguide.net/node/view/9240/bgimage
Nebraska Lepidoptera - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/8792-vidua/
Catocala whitneyi - Whitney's Underwing
Catocala whitneyi Larvae (RG)
Larvae
Larvae photos on MPG (26 species)
Larvae photos on BugGuide Starting with unsorted and then with sorted
Information link - 101 - 110 species of Catocala in North America north of Mexico.
Many references and photos for Catocala larvae in Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America pp.97-142
Underwing Moths of Canada and the United States
Nebraska Moth Lists - Catocala - https://nebraskalepidoptera.com/nebraska-moths-list/#Catocala
Catocala larva 16 species represented. To view individual species requires using filters.
(The link below is for my use -- refers to this entire page and includes the coding for pasting the link for the entire page when in Edit mode.)
Catocala Larvae (RG)
Work in progress...
Comments
Maybe it would be worth adding links to the observations in the species groups we are adding, and also a link of the Ventral View field observations? Not sure if that fits in with your purpose for this page. Awesome that you are collecting all this information in one spot. Thank you!!
Sounds like a good idea about the ventral views. I think for now I'll keep all the Catocala info on one page but if this starts getting too long, I'll probably break the links down into smaller sections for ease of making single links for posting.
Made a separate page for Catocala maestosa but will also leave the info on this page for now.
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/woolcarderbee/98341-catocala-maestosa
Will have to review my html coding as some things aren't working as planned.
So I don't have to look for this link when needed
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/useful-html-tags-for-inaturalist-comments-and-other-text-wiki/6198
Cool! Are you adding links to other species as you have time? There are a variety of other species that could be added with RG photos as well. Let me know if you want a list of ones I think would be good to start with.
Yes. Let me know which ones should have priority and I'll add them as I have time.
nuptialis, abbreviatella, whitneyi, amestris should all be good (I have a lot of reared examples of abbreviatella and amestris to add at some point if that impacts what you add).
Some that I have images and reared images of but haven't gone through the pool of other images yet: serena, amica (amica/lineella), obscura, judith, insolabilis, habilis, antinympha, minuta, meskei, micronympha
Suggested species have been added.
I wonder if there is a way to collect a link of reared examples here under the RG link for each species? I don't know the best way to do that, if we found a way it would probably add a lot of good photos that would augment the RG observations, and lots of the reared photos (like almost all of mine) won't show up in the RG link if they have been marked captive... Not sure the best way to filter for that, because if you only do the 'captive' filter then you miss any observation the observer took in the development series initially when the larva/organism was still wild. I guess you could filter by that one Reared Insect Nymphs/Larva project? But that would mean the observer would have had to add their observations to that project. Hmmm...
I have been adding observations of reared caterpillars and other insects as I come across them. Anyone can add examples of anything in the taxon Pterygota as long as there is either a link to the adult or the adult has been included along with the immature egg, larvae, and/or pupa.
So far this is what shows up for Catocala on
Reared or bred insect larvae-nymphs
As long as one of the photos in your group is not marked "Casual", the entire series can viewed if one knows to click on the Observation group link.
There are some other links I would like to add. Specifically some which show examples of what to photograph for best chances of getting an ID. Ex., Top, side, venter, head, host plant if available or at least a mention of what was nearby. Any other thoughts?
For head, I would make it clear that we are wanting to see the whole head face-on to get the lower portions of the head (which are often not visible from above). Otherwise that sounds good. Will think about anything else and let you know.
Hey! Is there a place on here where we could store the species groups we are using for easy reference? Then we could make sure we're being consistent when entering one. We could maybe put them by foodplant category (since that is one of the species groups anyways)? Just don't want to enter something as neogama/maestosa and another one as maestosa/neogama etc.
What I recall us using so far:
hickory
neogama/maestosa
oak
micronympha/similis
poplar/willow
meskei/junctura
rosaceae
ericaceae
amorpha
whitneyi/abbreviatella
What I can do is list the plants/trees and then the species. "Owlet Caterpillars..." has the common foodplants listed for each species. I'll set up a sample listing to see if that works. Is that what you mean?
I guess I meant that when we are adding the 'species group field' for some of these, it would be helpful to have a reference of the specific order/names we are entering into that field so that it stays consistent over many larvae. For example, so that we continue to add all species in one group as neogama/maestosa rather than accidentally typing maestosa/neogama in reverse order (or poplar/willow rather than willow/poplar) for some observations. Also, if we had a record of existing species groups, if somebody wanted to go back and review a species group it would be easy to see the ones that they could search for. Does that clarify at all?
Add a Comment