Bug FAQHerodias Underwing
Catocala herodias · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Pine Barrens Underwing
The Herodias underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of about 55 to 65 mm. Its larvae feed on oak species such as Quercus ilicifolia and Quercus rubra, and adults fly in midsummer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala herodias, known as the Herodias underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 55 to 65 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The main form lives in Texas and Oklahoma, while the subspecies gerhardi occurs from Massachusetts through Connecticut and New York down to Virginia.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of Quercus ilicifolia and Quercus rubra.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July to August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States, specifically the states mentioned for each form.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Connecticut, West Virginia.
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 are Herodias underwing moths active?
Adults are typically seen flying between July and August, with exact timing varying by region.
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_herodias
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.