Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
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View PDFErebidae Members:
Catocala Members:
52 NC Records

Catocala dejecta Strecker, 1880 - Dejected Underwing


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: CatocaliniP3 Number: 930780.00 MONA Number: 8790.00
Comments: One of 103 species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), 67 of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Included by Barnes and McDunnough (1918) in their Group VI (also adopted by Forbes, 1954). This groups comprises 15 species, all of which feed on Hickories or Walnuts (Juglandaciae). In addition to dejecta, other members of this group that occur in North Carolina include retecta, ulalume, insolabilis, myrisitica, vidua, maestosa, lachrymosa, palaeogama, nebulosa, subnata, and neogama.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a pale bluish-gray species with a fairly conspicuous pale band extending obliquely from the costa to the pale subreniform spot; the reniform is typically darkened. A basal dash is present in females but may be weak or absent in males. Hindwings are black, with a narrow fringe of white that becomes obscure at the anal angle.
Wingspan: 60-70 mm (Sargent, 1976)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: North Carolina habitats range from dry ridges to mesic hardwoods
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on hickories (Wagner et al., 2011) - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Catocala dejecta - Dejected Underwing

Photos: 29

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-09-03
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-08-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-08-23
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-13
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Wilkes Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-06
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-08-04
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-17
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-23
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-07-19
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-07-19
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-07-19
Orange Co.
Comment: Two seen on the same tree
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-26
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-26
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2018-08-11
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-04
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Taylor Piephoff on 2010-07-10
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2010-06-24
Randolph Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2008-07-12
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2000-07-24
Swain Co.
Comment: Specimen in the NCSU Insect Museum. Wingspan = 7.3 cm; forewing length = 3.6 cm.