Bug FAQEpione Underwing
Catocala epione · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Epione Underwing Moth
The Epione underwing is a moth with a wingspan of about 55 to 65 mm. Its caterpillars feed on the shagbark hickory tree (Carya ovata) and there is probably one generation each year, with adults flying in August and September.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala epione, called the Epione underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 55 to 65 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from August through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, occurring in eastern Canada and the United States as listed above.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas.
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
What do Epione underwing caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata).
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
It likely has 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_epione
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.