DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala aestivalia, the Underwing, (wingspan: male: 38-42mm; female: 42-45mm // forewing length: males: 16-21mm; females: 17-22mm) flies in northern Florida: Alachua Co.: Hogtown Creek; Dixie Co.; Liberty Co.; Gadsden Co. It probably flies in other southeastern states where Crataegus aestivalis grows.

I believe specimens have also been verified in southern Louisiana.

This species is very similar to the southern crataegi group, and it can often only be distinguished through DNA analysis. Generally, however, aestivalia has more white scaling on the forewing and around the reniform spot. It could easily be confused with crataegi, pretiosa, myra, even blandula.

The subreniform spot is relatively large, seems to alwasy be closed, and is lighter in colour than its surroundings. The black hindwing marginal band is usually, but not always broken (closed in the darkest male below. Females seem generally lighter than males

Catocala aestivalia, 37mm, Alachua County, Florida, Rick Gillmore

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala aestivalia are usually on the wing in April, May, June.

The Catocala aestivalia caterpillar probably feeds on Crataegus aestivalis, and it might be limited to that host, which is also known as eastern mayhaw. This shrub or small tree grows in low-lying or wet areas from eastern Alabama to central Florida and Virginia, possibly into eastern Mississippi. The host plant is often found in or near hydric hardwood forests along streams and rivers.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface, probably from flimsy cocoons of leaves and litter held together by sparse silk threads.

Adults have been procured from found larvae, and pupal development time is usually just over two weeks.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Females below do not have the heavy concentration of black scales in the basal area or along the fw inner margin as seen in the males of this species. I do not know if that is a consistent character of females or not??

What does stand out to me in all images is the upper half of the am line is relatively thick and dark while the lower half is relatively thin.

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 anticipated 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.

Crataegus aestivalis .......

eastern mayhaw

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

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