Catocala coccinata
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm koss-sin-NAY-ta
Grote, 1872

Catocala coccinata male courtesy of Vernon A. Brou.

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:

Catocala coccinata, the Scarlet Underwing (wingspan: 57-70mm) flies in Canada from Saskatchewan and Manitoba to southern Quebec (rare) and Nova scotia (rare) south through Connecticut to Georgia and Florida (form sinuosa-fine inner black band on hindwing), west to Texas and Oklahoma and north to Colorado, Nebraska, South and North Dakota.

The bright red/scarlet underwings distinguish this species. There are usually diffuse basal and anal dashes on an otherwise light grey, mottled forewing.

The hindwing fringe is white, checked, and sometimes has red highlights at apex.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala coccinata are usually on the wing from June to September.

Moths come to lights and also to bait.

The Catocala coccinata caterpillar feeds on oaks.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

Catocala coccinata 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.

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.

Quercus bicolor Quercus coccinea Quercus ilicifolia Quercus macrocarpa....... Quercus rubra Quercus stellata

Swamp White oak Scarlet oak Bear/Scrub oak Bur oak Northern Red oak Post oak

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