Red Underwing
Catocala nupta
This record describes Catocala nupta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 65-75 mm. Unmistakable large moth, but check the colour of the underwing carefully as other, scarcer species such as Light Crimson Underwing and Dark Crimson Underwing can be easily missed. Adult a photograph showing the colour of the underwing is helpful. Woodland, scrub, carr, riverbanks and gardens. It flies in August and September and comes freely to both light and sugar. The adults often rest on walls, fences and tree trunks (especially Poplars and Willows) and the large moths are often disturbed by day. This species is quite common in the southern half of Britain and is gradually increasing its range northwards. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Erebidae
- Genus
- Catocala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland, scrub, carr, riverbanks and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in August and September and comes freely to both light and sugar. The adults often rest on walls, fences and tree trunks (especially Poplars and Willows) and the large moths are often disturbed by day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Willow and Poplar.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is quite common in the southern half of Britain and is gradually increasing its range northwards. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catocala nupta. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Red Underwing (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Underwing
What is Red Underwing?
Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Red Underwing found?
Habitat: Woodland, scrub, carr, riverbanks and gardens.
When is Red Underwing active?
Red Underwing: seasonal activity - It flies in August and September and comes freely to both light and sugar. The adults often rest on walls, fences and tree trunks (especially Poplars and Willows) and the large moths are often disturbed by day..
What is the life cycle of a Red Underwing?
The larva feeds on Willow and Poplar.