Catocala abbreviatella
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmm
ab-bree-vee-uh-TEL-luh
Grote, 1872
The Abbreviated Underwing,
by Harold J. Vermes.
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
| TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Group: Noctuinina
Subfamily: Catocalinae
Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802
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DISTRIBUTION:
The Catocala abbreviatella moth
(wingspan: 40-50mm) flies from Indiana south and west to
Texas and Oklahoma
and north to Nebraska and Wisconsin.
It has also been confirmed in
Arkansas,
Illinois,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
North Dakota and
South Dakota.
This species is more common
in western portions of its range. In Indiana, it is considered
endangered by the Natural Resources Commission (January 2005).
The forewing is uniformly colored with narrow black lines on the
anterior half. The brown reniform spot is ringed with black.
Catocala abbreviatella, Oklahoma,
All leps Barcode of Life.
The outer black band of the hindwing is abbreviated and
then continued with a dot. The inner black band also terminates well
before the inner margin. There is considerable bleeding of orange
into the fringe.
Catocala abbreviatella, Oklahoma,
All leps Barcode of Life.
Similar species: Catocala nuptialis has a solid black
reniform spot. C. whitneyi has broad dark triangles in the
middle of the forewing.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
In Illinois, Nebraska and
Wisconsin Catocala abbreviatella are usually on the wing in
July and/or August.
Moths come in to lights readily and also to bait.
The Catocala abbreviatella caterpillar shows a preference for
Lead Plant (Amorpha) and possibly Locust (Robinia).
ECLOSION:
Adults eclose from pupae formed under surface litter.
SCENTING AND MATING:
Catocala abbreviatella females
emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the
scent plume.
EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE:
Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.
Mature larvae Image courtesy of |
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Larval Food Plants
Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants.
It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common
name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive,
although some species seem very host specific.
Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.
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Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to
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