Bug FAQBetrothed Underwing
Catocala innubens · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: The Betrothed Underwing, The Betrothed, Betrothed Underwing Moth
The betrothed underwing moth has a wingspan of about 55 to 72 mm. Its caterpillars feed on honey locust trees and there is one generation per year, with adults on the wing from June to September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The betrothed underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from about 55 to 72 millimeters.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on the honey locust tree (Gleditsia triacanthos).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same areas of North America described for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, South Dakota, Kansas, New Jersey.
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 betrothed underwings active?
Adults fly from June through September, varying with region.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
It produces one generation per year.
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_innubens
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.