Desdemona Underwing
Common NameDesdemona Underwing
Scientific NameCatocala desdemona
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyErebinae
Wingspan (mm)65
Primary Colorsgray, brown, orange, black
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, riparian areas
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and northern Mexico
Host PlantsQuercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus spp.
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in bark crevices and overwinter, hatching in spring. Larvae feed on oak leaves, pupate in leaf litter or soil, and adults emerge in summer.
Identification TipsKey features include the cryptic gray-brown forewings and the bright orange hindwings with a broad black median band and a black terminal band. The forewing pattern can be variable, but the hindwing coloration is distinctive.
Description
This moth features mottled gray and brown forewings that provide excellent camouflage against tree bark, contrasting sharply with its vibrant orange hindwings marked by two distinct black bands.
