Catocala abbreviatella

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 Pennsylvania south to Florida west to Texas and Oklahoma and north to Nebraska and Wisconsin.
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.
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.
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

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.

Amorpha.....

Leadplant

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