Bug FAQWhitney's Underwing
Catocala whitneyi · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Whitney's Underwing Moth
Whitney's underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae with a wingspan of about 45 to 50 mm. It lives in North America, from the northern plains eastward through the Midwest to the Southeast, and its larvae feed on Amorpha plants. Adults are on the wing in July and August, producing a single generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Whitney's underwing belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 45 to 50 millimetres.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in U.S. states such as North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Ohio and Tennessee.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on plants of the genus Amorpha.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly from July through August, with one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period for adults is July to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is North America, covering the same states listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Wisconsin, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Iowa.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Whitney's underwing?
Adults are on the wing in July and August, depending on location.
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_whitneyi
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.