Catocala jessica
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm JESS-ih-kuh
Henry Edwards, 1877

Catocala jessica, Arizona, courtesy of Bruce Walsh.

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

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala jessica, the Jessica Underwing, (wingspan: mm), flies from Arizona to California.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala jessica are on the wing from June until August.

The Catocala jessica caterpillar feeds on poplars and willows.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala jessica females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

Catocala jessica, Olive Drive area, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, 400'.
June 15 1988, Kelly Richers collector, at houselight.

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.

Populus....... Salix

Poplar Willow

Return to Main Index