Species Details

Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameSemirelict Underwing SeasonalityAdults are on the wing from late July through mid-September. IdentificationA large underwing moth (6.5-7.5 cm. wingspan) with mottled grey or mottled black, white and grey forewings and pink hindwings. In Alberta, semirelicta has two forms. The normal eastern form is less common here. It has black and white forewings with a broad black streak running along the fold, and is easy to recognize. This is the form usually illustrated in popular books. The normal form in Alberta is the much duller form "atala", which has powdery light and dark grey forewings with the jagged antemedian and sinuous postmedian lines marked in black. The large reniform spot and the surrounding area form an additional contrasting dark splotch. The narrow jagged subterminal line is indistinctly marked with pale scales. There are a few brown scales in the orbicular and along the postmedian line. The hindwings are dull pink or dark orange-pink. The black median band stops short of the margin. There are a few dark hairs, and the hindwings have a sharp, clean appearance. The hindwing fringe is white, and the antennae are simple. Both sexes are alike. Alberta semirelicta can be quite variable, and have gone under more than one name in the past. Some smaller specimens can be very difficult to separate from some C. hermia and C. meskei.

Scientific Name Catocala semirelicta Common Name Semirelict Underwing Habitat Mature Poplar and mixedwood forest, urban areas. Seasonality Adults are on the wing from late July through mid-September. Identification
A large underwing moth (6.5-7.5 cm. wingspan) with mottled grey or mottled black, white and grey forewings and pink hindwings. In Alberta, semirelicta has two forms. The normal eastern form is less common here. It has…
A large underwing moth (6.5-7.5 cm. wingspan) with mottled grey or mottled black, white and grey forewings and pink hindwings. In Alberta, semirelicta has two forms. The normal eastern form is less common here. It has black and white forewings with a broad black streak running along the fold, and is easy to recognize. This is the form usually illustrated in popular books. The normal form in Alberta is the much duller form "atala", which has powdery light and dark grey forewings with the jagged antemedian and sinuous postmedian lines marked in black. The large reniform spot and the surrounding area form an additional contrasting dark splotch. The narrow jagged subterminal line is indistinctly marked with pale scales. There are a few brown scales in the orbicular and along the postmedian line. The hindwings are dull pink or dark orange-pink. The black median band stops short of the margin. There are a few dark hairs, and the hindwings have a sharp, clean appearance. The hindwing fringe is white, and the antennae are simple. Both sexes are alike. Alberta semirelicta can be quite variable, and have gone under more than one name in the past. Some smaller specimens can be very difficult to separate from some C. hermia and C. meskei.
Life History
The adults, which fly in late summer and early fall, are nocturnal and come to light, but like all underwings, are most abundant at sugar bait. The eggs overwinter, and the larvae, which hatch in spring, are solitary…
The adults, which fly in late summer and early fall, are nocturnal and come to light, but like all underwings, are most abundant at sugar bait. The eggs overwinter, and the larvae, which hatch in spring, are solitary defoliators. There is a single brood each year.
Conservation A common, widespread species. No concerns. Diet Info No Alberta data. Elsewhere poplars (Populus). Range
From Nova Scotia south to Maine; west across Canada to British Columbia, and southward in the mountains. In Alberta, it is most abundant in the Aspen Parklands and across the southern Boreal Forest region, north to at…
From Nova Scotia south to Maine; west across Canada to British Columbia, and southward in the mountains. In Alberta, it is most abundant in the Aspen Parklands and across the southern Boreal Forest region, north to at least Lac la Biche and the northern Peace River area. It is also common throughout the foothills and in the lower elevations of the mountains, in the Cypress Hills, and in the wooded portions of the valleys of the arid Grasslands region.
Catocala semirelicta
Catocala semirelicta
Catocala semirelicta

Citation

Page Citation for Catocala semirelicta

Page Citation

"Species Details - Catocala semirelicta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-812. Accessed 07 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 113 specimens of this Species.

112 results plotted on map in 53 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13127 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByHocking, Brian Date Collected1955-08-04

UASM13128 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-24

UASM13129 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge Collected ByHochachka, P. W. Date Collected1957-08-22

UASM13130 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sundance Collected ByHocking, Brian Date Collected1955-09-04

UASM13131 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-21

UASM13132 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1918-08-24

UASM13133 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-08-04

UASM13135 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Blackfalds Date Collected1915-08-17/1915-08-24

UASM13136 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1929-07-30

UASM13137 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1945-08-07

UASM13138 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-22

UASM13139 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Athabasca River Collected ByBedford, R. H. Date Collected1924-09-17

UASM13142 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1929-08-25

UASM13143 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-23

UASM13144 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1953-08-18

UASM13146 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-07-24

UASM13147 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1916-09-24

UASM13148 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1949-08-11

UASM13149 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-21

UASM13150 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-08-26

UASM7139 - Catocala semirelicta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected1999-08-14

Adult Seasonal Distribution