Red Underwing

Catocala nupta

One of the larger British moths, this species is quite common in many places over much of England and Wales, and is gradually increasing its range northwards.

The Caterpillars are grey with a reddish tint and begin feeding in May and end in June. 

The Larvae feeds on willow and poplar.

Forewing pale grey powdered with darker grey, sometimes with dark grey banded suffusion, and in some cases yellowish-tinged; sometimes the cellspace before reniform coalescent with the spot below reniform, and a space along outer line, before it above middle and beyond it below, are all whitish & red underwing.

The Moths fly from mid-July to early October.

At night, they fly to light sources, but they usually land slightly away from the light.