Bug FAQIrene's Underwing
Catocala irene · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Irene's underwing is a moth first described in 1870. It lives in the western United States, specifically Utah, California, and Nevada. The caterpillars feed on poplar and willow species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala irene, known as Irene's underwing, belongs to the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 65 to 75 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in Utah, California, and Nevada in the western United States.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on species of poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the western United States, specifically Utah, California, and Nevada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 11 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Arizona.
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 adult Irene's underwing moths active?
Adults fly from July to September, with exact timing varying by location.
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_irene
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.