Catocala amestris
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmm a-MES-tris
Strecker, 1874

Catocala amestris, Florida, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

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

MIDI MUSIC

"Moon River"
copyright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala amestris, the Three-staff Underwing (wingspan 45-50mm), flies from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. It is reported as endangered in Michigan and Illinois and possibly in other states north of the Carolinas.

In form "westcotti" the outer black band is complete.

In others, the band is broken as in abbreviatella.

Hindwing ground colour is usually deeper yellow-orange than in similar species.

Catocala amestris "westcotti",
Georgia, courtesy of James K. Adams.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala amestris are usually on the wing from July through August.

The Catocala amestris caterpillar shows a preference for Amorpha canescens, Amorpha fruticosa and Robinia pseudoacacia.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

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

Catocala amestris final instar courtesy of J.K. Adams.

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.

Amorpha canescens
Amorpha fruticosa
Robinia pseudoacacia......

Pursh/Lead plant
Desert False Indigo/Bastard Indigo/Indigo Bush
Black locust

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