Catocala desdemona
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm des-de-MOH-nuh
Henry Edwards, 1882

Catocala desdemona New-Mexico, Villa Nueva State Park, June 30, 2002,
caught by Pierre de Tonnancour at Mercury vapor lamp,
images courtesy of Pierre Legault,
confirmed by Larry Gall and David Hawks.

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 desdemona, The Desdemona Underwing (wingspan: 60-65mm), flies in New Mexico and Texas and Arizona. The specimen on this page is very small, with a wingspan of only 52 mm.

Catocala desdemona New-Mexico, Villa Nueva State Park, June 30, 2002,
caught by Pierre de Tonnancour at Mercury vapor lamp,
images courtesy of Pierre Legault,
confirmed by Larry Gall and David Hawks.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala desdemona are usually on the wing from May to June. The Catocala desdemona caterpillar feeds on oaks and willows.

Catocala desdemona underside, New-Mexico, Villa Nueva State Park, June 30, 2002,
caught by Pierre de Tonnancour at Mercury vapor lamp,
images courtesy of Pierre Legault,
confirmed by Larry Gall and David Hawks.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING: Catocala desdemona 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 gambeli Quercus macrocarpus....... Salix Gambel Oak Bur oak Willow Return to Main Index