Bug FAQLittle Nymph Underwing
Catocala micronympha · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The little nymph underwing is a moth with a wingspan of about 35 to 50 mm. It lives across much of North America, from southern Canada through the eastern United States down to Florida and west to Texas and the Midwest. Its caterpillars feed on several oak species, including bur oak, post oak, and southern live oak.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala micronympha, called the little nymph underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan ranging from 35 to 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on oak trees such as Quercus macrocarpa, Q. stellata, and Q. virginiana.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from April through September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 36 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania.
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
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_micronympha
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.