Bug FAQSweet Underwing
Catocala dulciola · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Quiet Underwing, Sweet underwing moth
The sweet underwing (Catocala dulciola) is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of about 40 to 45 mm. Adults fly in June-July and there is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala dulciola, known as the quiet or sweet underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from roughly 40 to 45 millimetres.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on plants of the genus Crataegus (hawthorn).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from June to July, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the eastern and mid-western United States, including the states listed above.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 8 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania.
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 adult sweet underwings active?
Adults can be seen flying in June and July, though the exact timing varies by location.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
There is likely only one generation per year.
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_dulciola
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.