72.078 : 2452 : 8874
Eribidae : Eribinae

Red Underwing

CATOCALA nupta (Linnaeus 1767)
Picture
© L Mercer
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 75-95mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe east to Siberia - Far East,Japan
UK Distribution: Central & SE England,East Anglia,Lincolnshire,Midlands & E Wales - well distributed : SW England,W Wales,N England to Cumbria,Isle of Man - local : Channel Isles - widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Noctua) nupta (Linnaeus, 1767)
Type Species - Catocala
  • Phalaena nupta (Linnaeus, 1767)
Type Locality -
  • Germany
Flight Period: South - early July to early November : Elsewhere - mid August to mid October
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland
Similar Species -
  • Light Crimson Underwing - Catocala promissa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
  • Dark Crimson Underwing - Catocala sponsa (Linnaeus, 1767)
  • Rosy Underwing - Catocala electa (Vieweg, 1790)
Larva: The 65mm final instar larva is light brown with what looks like a twig new growth scar in the vicinity of the 5 pairs of prolegs with the appearance of a skirt with frilly edges which show when the larva is at rest.
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon in bark crevice or among plant debris
Overwinters as: Ovum deposited on a tree trunk or hidden in a bark crevice
Observations: This large moth is probably the most common of the Cotocala family but not necessarily being attracted to the light trap it is possibly under recorded.
The moth is attracted to light but generally finds a light source at height like I found two specimens on the light of an underpass,which were out of reach and gone very quickly if disturbed.
The forewing is in shades of grey with dentate cross lines and darker grey marbling in the median area and scalloped termen on both the forewing and the hindwing.
The hindwing which gives the moth its name is is red with wide terminal black band and thinner central black band.
Forewing markings,hindwing colour and scarcity of the similar species help in differentiating this moth.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Accepted Species Name:

Type Species CATOCALA:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Erebidae
Erebinae
Catocalini
CATOCALA Schrank, 1802
Catocala nupta (Linnaeus, 1767)
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Phalaena nupta (Linnaeus, 1767)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) nupta (Linnaeus,1767)
= Catocala unicuba Walker, [1858]
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 12) 1 (2). : Title page : p.841 - n.119
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Germany
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C.n.concubia Walker, [1858] - N.Hindstan
C.n.obscurata Oberthür,1880 - SE Siberia
C.n.nuptialsis Staudinger,1901 - Altai
C.n.centralasiae Kusnezov, 1903
C.n.nozawae Matsumura, 1911 - Japan
C.n.kansiensis O.Bang-Haas, 1927 - Kansu
C.n.clara Osthelder, 1933 - Turkey
C.n.japonica Mell,1936
C.n.likiandensis Mell, 1936 - Yunnan
C.n.alticola Mell, 1942 - Yunnan