Bug FAQGloomy Underwing
Catocala andromedae · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Andromeda Underwing
The gloomy underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae, known scientifically as Catocala andromedae. Adults have a wingspan of about 4 to 5 cm and fly from late spring through summer, with one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is called the Andromeda or gloomy underwing and belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges between 40 and 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives across the United States from Maine down the east coast to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on plants such as Andromeda, hickory, Lyonia, oak, and lowbush and highbush blueberries.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May through August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is the United States, covering states from Maine to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are gloomy underwing moths active?
Adults fly from May to August, with the exact timing varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations do they have each year?
They likely produce one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on Andromeda, hickory, Lyonia, oak, and both lowbush and highbush blueberries.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catocala_andromedae
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.