Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
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View PDFErebidae Members:
Catocala Members:
22 NC Records

Catocala maestosa Hulst, 1884 - Sad Underwing


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: CatocaliniP3 Number: 930789.00 MONA Number: 8793.00
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 VI (also adopted by Forbes, 1954). This groups comprises 15 species, all of which feed on Hickories or Walnuts (Juglandaciae). In addition to maestosa, other members of this group that occur in North Carolina include retecta, dejecta, ulalume, insolabilis, myristica, vidua, lachrymosa, palaeogama, nebulosa, subnata, and neogama.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Wingspan: 80-90 mm (Sargent, 1976)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have several records from urban areas, where planted Pecan may be the hosts. We also have a few records from brownwater river floodplains, where Bitternut or Water Hickory may be used.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Pecan and other Apocarya section hickories, as well as Walnut (Wagner et al., 2011) - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Catocala maestosa - Sad Underwing

Photos: 26

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-26
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-08-01
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-10-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-09-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-09-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-09-21
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2020-08-18
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2019-10-12
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Salman Abdulali on 2019-09-08
Pitt Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-08-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-08-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2018-09-18
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Susannah Goldston on 2018-08-10
Lee Co.
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Recorded by: Mary Stevens, Paul Hart on 2017-08-16
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: J. Anderson on 2010-06-17
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Salman Abdulali on 2007-08-19
Pitt Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2006-08-05
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: FKW, SBW on 2004-08-15
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: K. Winterhalter on 1987-00-00
Durham Co.
Comment: Reared from a larva collected on a Pecan. Wingspan = 8.3 cm; forewing length = 4.1 cm.
Recorded by: H.H. Neunzig on 1972-10-05
Columbus Co.
Comment: Specimen in the NCSU Insect Museum. Wingspan = 7.5 cm; forewing length = 4.0 cm.