Mother Underwing
Catocala parta Guenee, 1852
Family: Erebidae
Status: Resident
Range: Found in the northern half of the United States from Virginia west to Idaho north into central Canada
Larval Hostplant(s): Cottonwood, Aspen, Poplar (Populus) and Willow (Salix).
NENHP Ranking: Not listed
Broods/Flight Times: A single extended summer brood, June into October.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands.
Avg. Wingspan: Medium to large Underwing, 2 3/4 – 3 1/3 Inches.
Found at: Fontenelle Forest.
Overwintering: As eggs on tree bark.
Identification: FW mottled light gray and darker gray or brown with whitish patches; black basal, anal, and subapical dashes usually noticeable, sometimes indistinct; subreniform spot and area basal to reniform spot form a connected whitish patch; another whitish patch usually present mid-way along subterminal area. HW black and yellowish-orange or salmon-colored; medial band black, narrow, does not reach inner margin; terminal band black, broad; fringe scalloped, yellowish-orange to whitish, continuous to apex. (1)
Similar Species: The FW on the Scarlet Underwing (C. coccinata) is somewhat similar, but the HW ground color is crimson.
Notes: Identifying features illustrated.
Literature Cited: (1) BugGuide.net
