darling underwing

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Darling underwing is a medium to large sized, strikingly colored, underwing moth. Adults are 17 ⁄16″ to 1¾″ in length and have a wingspan of 2¾″ to 3¼″.

The forewings are violet brown and grayish-green with four dark jagged lines. The antemedial line is black and thin. It becomes barely visible as it approaches the inner margin. The median line is brown and diffuse. The postmedial line is black and thin. It is interrupted by two long, rearward-pointing teeth; then indistinct from the base of teeth toward the inner margin; then distinct at the inner margin and forming an "M" shape with the line on the opposite wing when the wings are closed. The kidney-shaped (reniform) spot has a pale grayish-green center, a dark margin, and a pale outer margin.

The hindwings are pink with a black median band, a black terminal band, and a broad white fringe that is checkered with black and gray along the veins.

The thorax is grayish-brown with two dark markings. There is a prominent tympanal hearing organ on each side of the thorax.

The antennae are slender and thread-like.

Total length: 17 ⁄16″ to 1¾″

Wingspan: 2¾″ to 3¼″

Once-married underwing (Catocala unijuga) forewing reniform spot is dark and there is a whitish spot in front of it. The subterminal jagged line has a broad, whitish outline in front. The fringe on the hindwing is undulating.

Pink underwing (Catocala concumbens) wings are light gray. The hindwing fringe is white, straight, and uninterrupted.

One generation. June to late October.

Larvae are solitary feeders.

Adults are active at night. They are attracted to light. When at rest the wings are folded roof-like over the body. When approached or disturbed they spread their forewings revealing the startling color of the hindwings, possibly to scare off or give it time to escape a predator.

Eggs are laid on tree bark in the fall. They overwinter and hatch in the spring..

Leaves of poplar and willow, especially black willow

Sources

4, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

Common

Location: Sargeant, MN (Mower County)

Location: Rockville, MN, Stearns County