Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

7 August 2003   10:24PM EST  (top)
22 July 2004   1:38AM EST  (center)
28 July 2003   (moth captured on 25/26 July 2003)  (bottom left and right)

Catocala briseis is one of 28 species of Catocala that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers. comm., 2001). To date, I have observed 19 of these species at my location. Collectively, these are referred to as the underwing moths, for their often-colorful hindwings.

The forewing of Catocala briseis is fairly dark gray overall, a color that Covell (1984) describes as "sooty". The scalloped double antemedial line is somewhat diffuse, partly filled with lighter gray grading to yellowish white at the inner margin. Markings within the dark gray median area are generally obscure except for a whitish smudge above the relatively well defined lighter gray subreniform spot; the reniform spot barely contrasts with the ground color of the wing. A smudgy white mark extends a short distance below the costa on the inside of the postemedial line. Between the postmedial line and the white zigzag subterminal line, there is an intermittent subterminal band that may be whitish to light golden brown. The terminal line is evident as a row of black dashes, barely contrasting with the dark gray of the terminal area and fringe, but accentuated by white dots that sometimes appear to extend into the fringe. The hindwing is banded in orange-red and black. According to Covell (1984), the wingspan ranges from 6 to 7 cm.

According to Handfield (1999), the larvae of Catocala briseis feed on willow, poplar, and trembling aspen. He indicates an adult flight season from just after mid-July to the beginning of October for my general area.

My records to date for Catocala briseis (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: