Catocala dulciola Grote, 1881
Sweet Underwing
NatureServe Global Rank: G3
Virginia State Rank: S1S3
VA DGIF Tier: III
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Sweet Underwing is one of the smallest underwings (40-45 mm), this species has a light gray forewing, a black basal dash, and a double am. line; the hindwing is yellowish-orange with two black bands. Also called Quiet Underwing.
Similar species: The Sweet Underwing is similar to the Praeclara Underwing (Catocala praeclara) which also has a double am line. However, the Praeclara Underwing also has other dark markings on the front wing (especially a rectangular area about 2/3 the distance from the base of the front wing, on the trailing edge), while the Sweet Underwing is much more lightly marked and overall gray.
North American Range: New York through North Carolina, west to Iowa.
VA Observations by Locality: Montgomery | Highland | Montgomery | Rockingham | Rockingham
Flight season and broods: Usually June and July, but some Virginia records in September and October.
Habitat and Food Plants: Found mostly in or at the edges of deciduous forests and is not restricted to any obviously unusual habitat. Larvae feed on hawthorn (Crataegus)species.
Behavior and Ecology: Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface. Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.
Population trend and potential threats: It is found regularly in some western parts of Virginia. Deer herbivory may also prove to be a threat in some places.
Management practices: Spraying to eradicate Gypsy moths (Lymantira dispar) is a serious potential threat to larvae. However, they would probably be middle or late instars during btk. applications, making any impact of such applications unpredictable.
References: Covell, Charles V. Covell, Jr.; A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America; Special Publication No. 12; Virginia Museum of Natural History in association with the Smithsonian Institution; 1984, 2005. P. 315.
Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University. Web application at: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=8871 Accessed: 13Apr2013
Schweitzer, D. F., M. C. Minno, and D. L. Wagner. 2011. Rare, Declining and Poorly Known Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) of Forests and Woodlands in the Eastern United States. USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, WV, FHTET-2011-01. 517 pp.
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=8871