Photo © Keith Tailby

Rosy Underwing

Catocala electa

Checklist Number
72.079 [B&F: 2453]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Erebidae
Subfamily:Erebinae
Genus:Catocala
Species:electa
Authority:(Vieweg, 1790)

Rare immigrant from southern Europe, appearing in southern England irregularly in the 20th Century. In the past two decades occurrences have been almost annual and signs that it may be on the verge of local colonisation. In our area, there have been six recorded on the Isle of Wight since 2009. Surprisingly, Hampshire had to wait until 2022 for the first mainland record. Wingspan 65-80 mm. The main confusion species are the very much more common Red Underwing C. nupta, which has the forewing more mottled and fasciae less deeply dentate, hindwing with dark marginal band somewhat narrower and its distal edge more irregular, and Dark Crimson Underwing C. sponsa, which has the forewing darker with reniform stigma large and pale (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on Grey Willow, Crack Willow, Black Poplar and White Poplar, no evidence of breeding in the UK.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Totland (SZ38)21/08/2009oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Totland (SZ38)28/08/2015oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)11/09/2016oneJames HalseyAdult
Totland (SZ38)27/08/2017oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Freshwater Bay (SZ38)30/08/2021oneSue DaviesAdult
Freshwater Bay (SZ38)21/08/2022oneSue DaviesAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Lymington (SZ39)20/08/2022oneAlec S HarmerAdult