Bug FAQClinton's Underwing
Catocala clintonii · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Clinton's Underwing Moth
Clinton's underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae. Its wingspan ranges from about 45 to 55 mm. The caterpillars eat a variety of trees such as hawthorn, honey locust, apple, serviceberry, hollyleaf cherry and elm.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala clintoni, known as Clinton's underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan measures between 45 and 55 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on the leaves of hawthorn, honey locust, apple, serviceberry, hollyleaf cherry and elm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from February through July, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; 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 Clinton's underwing moths?
Adults are active from February to July, varying with the region.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on leaves of hawthorn, honey locust, apple, serviceberry, hollyleaf cherry and elm.
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_clintoni
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.