Catocala orba
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm OR-buh
Kusnezov, 1903

Catocala orba, Louisiana, courtesy of Vernon Antoine 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:

The Orba underwing, Catocala orba (wingspan: 40-45mm), flies from Massachusetts (rare) south to Georgia and Florida, west to Texas, and as far north as Mississippi.

The forewing is a uniform grey with light lines and poorly defined spots. The hindwing underside is completely black. The hindwing fringe is unbroken and slightly off white, somewhat grey. Orba may be a slightly larger subspecies or form of miranda. Catocala orba courtesy of J.K. Adams.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala orba are on the wing in May in Texas and from June to late July elsewhere, possibly into August.

Catocala orba, Marion County, Florida, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

The Catocala orba caterpillar probably feeds on hickories and walnuts.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala orba 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.

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