Moths of North Carolina
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17 NC Records

Catocala angusi Grote, 1876 - Angus' Underwing

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: CatocaliniP3 Number: 930770.00 MONA Number: 8783.00
Comments: One of 103 species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), 67 of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Included by Barnes and McDunnough (1918) in their Group V (also adopted by Forbes, 1954). This groups comprises 10 species, all of which feed on Hickories or Walnuts (Juglandaciae). In addition to angusi, other members of this group that occur in North Carolina include habilis, serena, robinsonii, judith, flebilis, obscura, residua, and sappho.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Sargent 1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A large, polymorphic Underwing with black hindwings. The typical form is pale gray with the lower loop of the postmedian shaded with black and with a dark shade extending downward from that line to the inner margin; a somewhat darkened subapical dash may also be present and females may possess a dark basal dash. In form lucetta, a dark band extends obliquely from the base of the forewing to the outer margin. A melanic form also exists. In all of these forms, the hindwings are black with a fuscous fringe. The dark hindwing fringe and dark patch on the lower forewing postmedian distinguishes angusi from the robinsonii and myristica, including their banded forms. The larger size, paler forewing ground color and dark hindwing fringe distinguishes form lucetta from flebilis.
Wingspan: 60-70 mm (Sargent, 1976)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae are shiny dark brownish-gray (see Wagner et al., 2011, for an illustration). Habilis is similar but the stigmatal line of angusi is weaker and more broken up; the spots on the underside are black (Forbes, 1954).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Recorded in North Carolina primarily in the Piedmont and Lower Mountains; only one sight record exists from the lower Roanoke River floodplain in the Inner Coastal Plain
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Univolitine, our records come from late July to early September
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: In North Carolina, our records come stands of hardwoods growing on rich soils, including the nutrient-rich alluvial forests along the Roanoke River, a stand of dry-basic hardwood forest in the central Piedmont, and rich cove forests in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding primarily on Shagbark Hickories (Wagner et al., 2011). Based on our records, it appears to feed on both Northern and Southern Shagbarks. Wagner et al. also mention that it has been reared on Black Walnut. - View
Observation Methods: Comes to lights to some extent; like other Underwings, it probably comes to bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Dry Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an uncommon species that appears to be a strong habitat specialist. More information is needed on its distribution, abundance, and habitat associations in North Carolina before its conservation status can be accurately determined.

 Photo Gallery for Catocala angusi - Angus' Underwing

Photos: 14

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-10
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-07-15
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-08-28
Guilford Co.
Comment: Form Lucetta.		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-07-26
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2013-08-29
Warren Co.
Comment: Form Lucetta.		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2011-09-01
Randolph Co.
Comment: Typical form, male. Wingspan = 6.7 cm; forewing length = 3.5 cm.
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2009-08-21
Warren Co.
Comment: Form Lucetta.		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2009-08-19
Warren Co.
Comment: Typical form.