Bug FAQCatocala violenta
Catocala violenta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The moth has a wingspan of about 70 to 80 mm. It lives from Colorado through Arizona east to Texas and into Mexico. Adults fly in July and August, depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 70 to 80 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on the oak species Quercus gambeli.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through August, varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Utah.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Catocala violenta?
Adults are active from July to August, depending on the local climate.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on Quercus gambeli, a type of oak.
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_violenta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.