#8806 parta

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

🔗Links: Moth Photographers Group, BugGuide.net

Mother Underwing, Sarpy Co., NE, Barbara Padelford
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