Catocala hippolyta
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm hip-POLL-ih-tuh
Strecker, 1874

Catocala hippolyta from Hampson Plate

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 hippolyta moth (wingspan: mm) flies in California.

There is a white border just inside the subterminal line. The post medial line lacks any outward jagged projections, being more uniformly zig-zag except for an inward projecting "tooth" near the anal angle.

The inner black band on the scarlet hindwing is very narrow, tapering to a curved point, terminating well before the inner margin. The fringe is white and continuous from the apex to the anal angle.

Catocala hippolyta, Catocala nevadensis and Catocala pura may all be synonymous with Catocala semirelicta.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala hippolyta flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from July to early October.

Catocala hippolyta larvae feed on .

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala hippolyta females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume. This is a sexually dimorphic species.

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.

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