Bug FAQCalifornia Underwing
Catocala californiensis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The California Underwing lives in southern California. Its caterpillars eat the shrub Quercus turbinella. Adults fly in June and July, and there is likely one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in southern California.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on Quercus turbinella.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs in southern California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are California Underwing moths active?
Adults are on wing from June through July.
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_californiensis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.