Bug FAQAbbreviated Underwing
Catocala abbreviatella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Abbreviated Underwing Moth
The abbreviated underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae. Its wingspan measures about 40 to 50 mm. The caterpillars eat leaves of Amorpha and possibly Robinia plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala abbreviatella belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of roughly 40 to 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Amorpha species and may also use Robinia species as hosts.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing during July and August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes several Midwestern and Southern U.S. states such as Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Wisconsin, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota.
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 can I see adult abbreviated underwings?
Adults fly in July and August, though the exact timing varies by region.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on plants in the Amorpha genus and possibly on Robinia species.
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catocala_abbreviatella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.