Underwing Moth - Owlet Moth

Underwing Moth - Owlet Moth

Catocola
Noctuidae

Catocala is a generally Holarctic genus of owlet moths (family Noctuidae or superfamily Noctuoidea ) commonly known as underwing moths or simply underwings.An underwing moth, well camouflaged in its daytime resting spot on a tree trunk or branch, will suddenly flash open the hindwings when disturbed. A bird or other small predator that is not used to this display is likely to be frightened, allowing the moth to escape. However, unlike some other bright-colored moths which are bad-tasting or even poisonous to predators, underwing moths are well palatable at least to some birds (e.g. the Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata). These, once they have learned not to fear the color display, will hunt and eat underwing moths. To assist in avoiding nocturnal predators such as bats, these moths possess (like many of their relatives) fairly well-developed hearing organs.