Bug FAQYellow-banded Underwing
Catocala cerogama · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Yellow-banded Underwing Moth
The yellow-banded underwing is a North American moth with a wingspan of about 6.4 to 8.1 cm. Adults are active from July through October and their larvae feed on American basswood.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its hindwings have vivid yellow bands while the forewings are generally brownish-gray. A pale stripe links a whitish subreniform spot to the leading edge of the forewing.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 64 to 81 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on American basswood.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from July to October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans midsummer to early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
This species is native to North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, Minnesota.
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
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_cerogama
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.