Habilis
Underwing (Catocala
habilis, Hodges # 8778) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 13 October 2005 The front wings of underwing moths often look very similar among different species. So in order to identify them, I either coax the moth to open its wings by disturbing it, or gently lift one front wing, as you see in these photos. The hind wing can provide some key identification features. Note the dates of these photos. Underwings are mostly late summer to autumn moths, although some smaller ones seem to have two generations per summer. All of these are about 2.5 to 3.5 inch wingspans. |
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Obscure
Underwing (Catocala obscura,
Hodges # 8784) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 17 August 2009 This is the only underwing with black hind wings that I have found here so far in the Chicago area. |
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The
Bride Underwing (Catocala neogama,
Hodges # 8798) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 11 September 2009 |
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Yellow-banded Underwing (Catocala cerogama, Hodges #
8802) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 1 September 2006 For the several years after this photo was taken (during 2007 and 2008), the yellow-banded underwing was the one that I most often encountered at Fermilab. |
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Once-married Underwing (Catocala unijuga, Hodges #
8805) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 1 September 2006 |
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Mother
Underwing (Catocala parta,
Hodges # 8806) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 2 September 2009 This is a fairly common underwing in late summer and early fall at Fermilab. According to "A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America," by Charles V. Covell, Jr., a key identification feature is the presence of the dark rays on the forewing near the apex, near the body and parallel to the trailing edge. |
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Bronze
Underwing (Catocala cara,
Hodges # 8832) Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois 13 September 2006 This strikingly beautiful underwing moth has a unique purplish tint on the front wings. It is common at Fermilab. |