Bug FAQMarbled Underwing
Catocala marmorata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Marbled Underwing Moth
The marbled underwing has a wingspan of roughly 85 to 95 mm. Adults are active from midsummer through early fall, depending on where they live. It occurs in the United States from Vermont down to South Carolina and westward to Indiana and Illinois.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala marmorata belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges between 85 and 95 mm (about 3.3 to 3.7 in).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on species of poplar and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is likely one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through September, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the eastern and mid-western United States, spanning Vermont, South Carolina, Indiana, and Illinois.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 21 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, California, Kentucky, New Jersey.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are marbled underwing moths active?
Adults fly from July to September, depending on the 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_marmorata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.