Bug FAQOphelia Underwing
Catocala ophelia · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Ophelia Underwing has a wingspan of about 52 mm and lives in dry forests of Arizona, California and southwestern Oregon. Adults are on the wing from July to October, and the species likely has one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Ophelia Underwing belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 52 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in dry forest areas of Arizona, California and southwestern Oregon.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat the leaves of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species probably produces one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from July through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
These states are within its native range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, 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
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Ophelia Underwing moths?
Adults are on the wing from July to October, varying with the local area.
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_ophelia
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.