Catocala verrilliana
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm ver-il-LEE-ah-nuh
Grote, 1875

Catocala verrilliana 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

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DISTRIBUTION:

Verrill's Underwing, Catocala verrilliana (wingspan: 45-60mm), flies from Washington to Colorado and south to California, Arizona and Texas.

David Wikle has taken them at Cloverdale Muni Airport, Sonoma County, California, 24 August 2003.

Catocala verrilliana, Pinnacles National Monument, July 13, 2003,
San Benito County, courtesy of Paul Johnson.

The subreniform spot is large (considerably larger than reniform) and light in colour. There is a light patch running from the subreniform diagonally to the costa. A dark area on the basal side of the antemedial line and light patches between the postmedial and subterminal lines distinguish this species. The inner black band of the hindwing ends bluntly, well before the inner margin. The fringe is checked and slightly paler than the orange ground colour.

The midtibiae have spine-like projections while the protibiae and hindtibiae are without spines.

Catocala verrilliana, Washington, courtesy/copyright John Davis

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala verrilliana flies as a single generation with moths on the wing in May in Texas and from July to September elsewhere: Washington to California to Texas to Colorado. Male, right, was taken at Rt 155 at Alder Creek Road, 4850' Kern County, CA on July 20, 1990 by Kelly Richers at uv light.

The Catocala verrilliana caterpillar feeds on oak species.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala verrilliana females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume. Female, right, was taken at Rt 155 at Alder Creek Road, 4850' Kern County, CA on July 20, 1990 by Kelly Richers at uv light. Note shorter abdomen, with "turkey baster" shape.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.

Catocala verrilliana third instar, courtesy of Gabriel Larrabee. copyright

Catocala verrilliana third instar, courtesy of Gabriel Larrabee. copyright

Uniformly grey white with a pale pink hue; middorsum of A5 and A8 with tubercles; head same color as body but with reticulated lines; ventral row of short whisker-like hairs. This species is common on white oak during May and June.

Catocala verrilliana fifth instar, courtesy of Jeffrey C. Miller. copyright

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 alba Quercus macrocarpa....... Quercus garryana

White oak Bur oak Garry Oak/Oregon white oak

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