72.081 Catocala sponsa (Dark Crimson Underwing)
fw: 29-34mm (Waring & Townsend); Jul-Oct; pedunculate oak (Quercus robur); RDB - resident in mature oak woodland in the New Forest, Hampshire, increasing migrant and probably now resident on south coast from Devon to Essex.
Catocala sponsa (Dark Crimson Underwing) §1
ID: Similar to C.promissa (Light Crimson Underwing). According to Waring & Townsend the most reliable means of distinguishing these two is the shape of the black hindwing mark which is 'W' shaped in C.sponsa; the hindwing may not visible in the live moth and even when it is it can be difficult to be sure of its shape. C.sponsa averages larger but there is a considerable overlap range. In C.sponsa the antemedian line touches the pale central spot, in C.promissa it doesn't; in C.sponsa the prongs extending distally from the postmedian line almost touch the subterminal line, they don't usually extend so far in C.promissa; in C.promissa the white subterminal llne is more coarsely dentate; in C.sponsa there is a row of brownish blocks between the postmedian and subterminal lines.
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
§1 Epping Forest, Essex; 24/07/2026; to sugar
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 04/082026 (§1)
