Main: (Erebidae / Erebinae)
72.079 [B&F: 2453] Rosy Underwing (Catocala electa) (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, with 17 in the past 25 years. In our area, there have been four taken on the Isle of Wight, three of which were in Sam Knill-Jones's Totland trap, the first in 2009, and then three years running from 2015. Surprisingly, it has not been recorded from Hampshire to date (2019). 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.

Update: Status review, December 2019.

Flightime guide

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F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

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Adult

Larval