Moths of North Carolina
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Catocala Members:
1 NC Records

Catocala louiseae Bauer, 1965 - Louise's Underwing

Catocala louiseae
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: CatocaliniP3 Number: 930834 MONA Number: 8848.00
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. Louisieae appears to be closely related to other species that feed primarily on heaths, including C. andromedae, gracilis, and sordida (Group XV of Barnes and MacDunnough, 1918 and Forbes, 1954).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Sargent (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A small Catocala, with a forewing pattern very similar to C. andromeda but with yellow-orange and black-banded hindwings rather than the all black found in andromeda (Sargent, 1976). Like andromeda, there is a black spot located before the white subreniform spot; the reniform is a dark oval; and the postmedian is bordered outwardly by a white line or shade; overall, the white shading is more contrasting than in gracilis (Sargent, 1976). As in the other members of this group, the inner margin is shaded with black and there is also an area of black in the subterminal area below the apex. The inner black band on the hindwing ends abruptly before the inner margin.
Wingspan: 40 mm
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of C. andromedae: pinkish gray with numerous fine lines (see Wagner et al., 2011, for a detailed description and illustration). Due to that similarity, larvae need to be reared to adulthood to confirm their identity.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Known in North Carolina from only a single site 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: Our sole specimen was collected in late June
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The single site where this species has been recorded in North Carolina is located within a complex of Carolina Bays, with deep sands forming ridges around their margins. These sandridges are very xeric, supporting populations of Turkey Oak and Longleaf Pine in the sparse overstory, and with heaths common in the shrub layer. Sparkelberry, the presumed host plant for louiseae, was common at this site (S. Hall, pers. obs.).
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on Vaccinium, including Sparkleberry (V. arboreum), and possibly other heaths (Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Observation Methods: Our sole record comes from a blacklight trap, but we do not have any information regarding how well it comes to lights in general. Probably also comes to bait, like most other Catocalas.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: SR
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S1S2
State Protection: Listed as Significantly Rare by the Natural Heritage Program. That designation, however, does not confer any legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Considered rare or local by Sargent (1976) but reported to be locally common in parts of Florida (Wagner et al., 2011). Despite extensive surveys conducted in North Carolina in sandridge habitats -- including several during the flight period in Bladen County -- no additional specimens have been found. Habitat would not seem to be a limiting factor, however. Surveys -- including larval searches -- need to be conducted at the original site to determine whether it is still present.

 Photo Gallery for Catocala louiseae - Louise's Underwing

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J Cromartie on 1993-06-26
Bladen Co.
Comment: Specimen in the NCSU Insect Museum; determined by D. Schweitzer, 1992. Wingspan = 4.1 cm; forewing length = 1.9 cm.