Catocala nevadensis
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm nev-ad-DEN-sis
Beutenmüller, 1907

Catocala nevadensis

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

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DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala nevadensis (forewing length 30mm) flies in Nevada and California and greatly resembles semirelicta, but the forewings of nevadensis are darker and lack the dark bar parallel to and slightly above the forewing inner margin.

The reniform spot is brown; the subreniform spot is much lighter, almost white and the area immediately outside the subterminal line is very dark.

The hindwing inner black band of nevadensis is narrow and terminates well before the inner margin.

Beutenmüller, 1907, also described the form "montana".

Catocala hippolyta, Catocala nevadensis and Catocala pura may all be synonymous with Catocala semirelicta.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: Catocala nevadensis are on the wing in September and October. Kelly M. Richers reported a specimen on October 6, 2000, at Pleasant Valley Dam Road along Rt 395, (elevation 4430') in Inyo County, California, at a uv trap (image right).

The Catocala nevadensis caterpillar feeds on poplars and willows.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala nevadensis 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.

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.

Populus....... Salix

Poplar Willow

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