Bug FAQMother Underwing Moth
Catocala parta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Mother Underwing
The mother underwing moth (Catocala parta) belongs to the family Erebidae. Its wingspan measures about 70 to 78 mm and adults fly in August and September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala parta, known as the mother underwing, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 70 to 78 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on species of poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from August to September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active in late summer, typically August and September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes much of Canada and the United States, spanning from the Atlantic provinces to the western states listed above.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 26 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Illinois, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Connecticut.
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 are mother underwing moths active?
Adults fly in August and September, varying by region.
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_parta
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.