Widow Underwing
Catocala vidua (Smith, 1797)
Family: Erebidae
Status: Resident
Range: Eastern United States west as far as southeast Nebraska and central Oklahoma and Texas.
Larval Hostplant(s): Hickory (Carya) and Walnut (Juglans).
NENHP Ranking: Not listed
Broods/Flight Times: A single summer brood, July to October.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands.
Avg. Wingspan: Medium large size, 2 3/4 – 3 1/3 Inches.
Found at: Fontenelle Forest, Indian Cave State Park.
Overwintering: As an egg on tree bark.
Identification: FW strongly marked with black lines and shading. Prominent blackish arch from above reniform at costa to outer margin just below the apex. Heavy basal and anal dashes. HW with broad white fringe (2).
Similar Species: The Yellow-gray Underwing (C. retecta) is generally smaller, with a lighter pm line with the blackish FW arch extending under the reniform spot. C. maestosa is larger, not as strongly marked and has a narrower HW fringe.
Notes: Identifying features illustrated.
Literature Cited: (2) Sargent, T. D. 1976 Legion of the Night. The Underwing Moths, Univ. Mass. Press; Amherst; 222 pp.
