Catocala messalina, the Messalina underwing, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.[1][2] It is found in the United States from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas and north to Kansas.

Catocala messalina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Catocala
Species:
C. messalina
Binomial name
Catocala messalina
Guenée, 1852
Synonyms
  • Catocala belfragiana Harvey, 1875
  • Catocala jocasta Strecker, 1875

The wingspan is 40–45 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. There is probably one generation per year.

The larvae feed on the oak species Quercus geminata, Quercus hemisphaerica and Quercus virginiana.

References

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  1. ^ Yu, Dicky Sick Ki. "Catocala messalina Guenee 1852". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
  2. ^ Savela, Markku (July 27, 2019). "Catocala messalina Guenée, 1852". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
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