Bug FAQGraceful Underwing
Catocala gracilis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Graceful Underwing Moth
The graceful underwing (Catocala gracilis) is a moth in the family Erebidae. It has a wingspan of 40 to 45 mm and flies from July to September. Its caterpillars feed on Leucothoe, lowbush blueberry and possibly oak.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala gracilis, the graceful underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is about 40 to 45 millimetres.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Leucothoe, Vaccinium pallidum (lowbush blueberry) and possibly oak species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through September, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same eastern-central region of Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Maine, Rhode Island.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult graceful underwings?
Adults are active from July to September, depending on where you are.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on Leucothoe, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) and possibly oak.
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_gracilis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.