I took this image of two Catocalas on my porch in Halifax County on Monday night, June 13. I'm going back and forth between C. gracilis (Graceful Underwing) and C. sordida (Sordid Underwing). Despite the obvious differences in thorax color and extent of the black inner margin, I believe they are the same species. Although it doesn't show on these images, I'm positive the hindwings have yellow and black bands which rules out C. andromedae. Unfortunately, I did not capture either moth to see if the black inner band on the hindwing forms a complete loop (Sordid) or is broken (Graceful) which is apparently the diagnostic field mark. Both feed on blueberries which are common on my farm and both range across North Carolina. Has anyone seen either of these species and know anyway to be reasonably certain of the id based on the forewing pattern? According to Covell, both have forms that show a distinct black border along the inner margin of the FW. -- J. Merrill Lynch Echo Valley Farm Watauga County, NC Elevation: 3,400 feet
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