Bug FAQScarlet Underwing
Catocala coccinata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Scarlet Underwing Moth
The scarlet underwing (Catocala coccinata) is a moth in the family Erebidae. Its wingspan measures about 57 to 70 mm. It occurs from southern Canada through the eastern United States down to Florida, and adults fly from June to September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The scarlet underwing, scientific name Catocala coccinata, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from about 57 to 70 millimetres.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on oak trees, including Quercus macrocarpa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June through September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to southern Canada and the eastern United States, extending onto the Great Plains and as far south as Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Florida.
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 scarlet underwings active?
Adults fly from June to September, with exact timing varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
What do scarlet underwing larvae eat?
The larvae feed on oak species, such as Quercus macrocarpa.
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_coccinata
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.