Bug FAQLittle Underwing
Catocala minuta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Little Underwing has a wingspan of about 35 to 45 mm. Adults fly from June through August, depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges between 35 and 45 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on water locust (Gleditsia aquatica) and honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is likely one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June to August, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found across the United States from the Atlantic coast to Texas and up to the northern Midwest.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas, Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oklahoma.
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
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on Gleditsia aquatica and Gleditsia triacanthos.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult Little Underwings active?
Adults fly from June through August, depending on location.
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_minuta
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.