Bug FAQJessica Underwing
Catocala jessica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The wingspan is about 75 mm. Adults fly from June to October and probably have one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 75 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on species of poplar and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from June through October, likely producing one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen flying between June and October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is found in the United States, spanning from Arizona and Colorado up to Illinois and California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 9 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, California, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado.
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 are adult Jessica Underwing moths active?
Adults are on the wing from June to October.
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_jessica
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.