Dejected Underwing
Catocala dejecta Strecker, 1880
Family: Erebidae
Status: Resident
Range: Eastern United States west as far as southeast Nebraska and eastern Oklahoma and Texas.
Larval Hostplant(s): Hickory (Carya).
NENHP Ranking: Not listed
Broods/Flight Times: A single summer brood.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands.
Avg. Wingspan: Medium size, 2 1/4 – 2 7/8 Inches.
Found at: Indian Cave State Park
Overwintering: As eggs on its hostplants.
Identification: The FW has a blueish hue and a light patch on the costal margin about 1/3 of the way up the wing, may have two whitish crescents at bottom of FW edge, The HW margin is thin, white and interrupted with pointed black veins.
Similar Species: On Yellow-Gray Underwings (C. retecta) FWs have a brownish hue, a more prominent basal dash and a dash through the pm line. On the HW the fringe is wider. In Ulalume Underwings (C. ulalume) the FW appears “dusted” and lacks the blueish hue. Tearful Underwings (C. lacrymosa) has more pronounced white crescents on the inner margins of the FW.
Notes: Identifying features illustrated.
🔗Links: Moth Photographers Group, BugGuide.net
