Bug FAQHabilis Underwing
Catocala habilis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Habilis Underwing Moth
The habilis underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of about 55 to 65 mm. It lives in parts of Canada and the United States, from Quebec and Manitoba down to North Carolina and west to Arkansas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala habilis belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 55 to 65 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found across a stretch of North America that includes Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina and Arkansas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on shagbark hickory, green ash, butternut and black walnut.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species likely produces one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult habilis underwings active?
Adults can be seen flying between June and October, with exact timing varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does the habilis underwing have each year?
There is probably one generation per year.
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_habilis
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.