Bug FAQBriseis Underwing Moth
Catocala briseis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: briseis underwing
The Briseis underwing moth belongs to the family Erebidae and is known as Catocala briseis. It lives across the North American boreal forest from Newfoundland to the Pacific and south to Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Adults fly from July through September, and the caterpillars eat poplar and willow species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from about 59 to 65 millimetres.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on species of poplar, including trembling aspen, and on willow species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult moths are on the wing from July to September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active during the summer months, typically July through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the boreal forest of North America, spanning from eastern Canada to the western coast and reaching into the northeastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Wyoming, Minnesota, Connecticut, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, Illinois.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Briseis underwing moths active?
Adults fly from July to September, varying with location.
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_briseis
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.