Aholibah underwing

The Aholibah underwing (Catocala aholibah) is a moth of the "owlet" family Erebidae, which has over 25,000 known members, and more than that yet undescribed. Like other moths of the underwing genus (Catocala), this species has dull gray and black speckled forewings which help it blend into its surroundings, and bright orange underwings that it reveals to startle predators.

Aholibah underwing
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Catocala
Species:
C. aholibah
Binomial name
Catocala aholibah
Synonyms
  • Catocala coloradensis Beutenmueller, 1903
  • Catocala ellenensis Reiff, 1920

The adults are mature during the early summer, and are found in western North America from British Columbia south to Arizona.

An adult has a wingspan of up to 8 centimeters. The larva is a dark gray mottled caterpillar with thick pink-tinted legs and a jumping ability. The adults feed on nectar, sap, and rotting fruit, while the larvae prefer the foliage of several oak species.

References

  1. Yu, Dicky Sick Ki (1997–2012). "Catocala aholibah Strecker 1874". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
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