DISTRIBUTION:

Johnson's Underwing, Catocala johnsoniana (wingspan: mm), flies in California: Butte, Colusa, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Solano, Tuolumne and Yolo counties.

"Catocala johnsoniana occurs mostly in the northern, eastern and southern foothills edging the Central Valley of California, mostly at slightly lower elevations than the other five species in the delilah complex found in California." David Hawks.

Catocala johnsoniana, California, courtesy of David Hawks, as per link at bottom of page.

This species has a conspicuous basal dash, an open subreniform spot, and longer teeth in the pmline as compared to C. californiensis.

"The hindwing inner black band is relatively short and thick, while the postmedial yellow band is proportionately wider than in most specimens of all other species in the C. delilah complex." David Hawks.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

It is expected that larvae prefer Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn.

Catocala johnsoniana are usually on the wing from late May to early July.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae in leaf litter at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala johnsoniana females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Quercus douglasii .......

Blue Oak

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Visit Catocala delilah Species Complex; Author: David Hawks.

Visit California Catocala immatures