Bug FAQWoody Underwing
Catocala grynea · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Woody Underwing Moth
The woody underwing is a moth in the family Erebidae. Its wingspan measures about 40 to 50 mm. It lives across much of North America, from eastern Canada and the northeastern US down to Florida, west to Texas, and north to the upper Midwest.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Catocala grynea, known as the woody underwing, belongs to the moth family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 40 to 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on hawthorn (Crataegus), plum (Prunus) and apple (Malus) trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is probably one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May through September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of eastern Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 35 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult woody underwings?
Adults fly from May to September, varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It occurs across much of eastern Canada and the United States, from the northeast down to Florida and west to Texas.
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_grynea
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.