Bug FAQSad Underwing
Catocala maestosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Sad Underwing Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The sad underwing moth has a wingspan of about 78 to 98 mm. Adults are active from July through October, depending on where they live. It occurs across the eastern United States, from New York down to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala maestosa, known as the sad underwing, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 78 to 98 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on water hickory, pecan, and black walnut trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July to October, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same eastern US states listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 33 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia.
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 sad underwings active?
Adults fly from July through October, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on water hickory, pecan, and black walnut.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the sad underwing found in the United States?
It occurs from New York down to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma, reaching north to Illinois and Minnesota.
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 acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catocala_maestosa
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.