TRIBE CATOCALINI
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Catocala Schrank

Type species: nupta Linnaeus, Europe.

Synonyms: Alura Möschler (type species caupona Möschler = Catocala, Felder & Rogenhofer, Africa); Andrewsia Grote (type species belfragiana Harvey, N. America); Astiotes Hübner (type species dilecta Hübner, Europe); Blepharidia Hübner (1822; type species fraxini Linnaeus, Europe); Blepharonia Hübner (type species pellex Hübner, Europe); Catabapta Hulst (type species antinympha Hübner, N. America); Corisce Hübner (type species amica Hübner, N. America); Ephesia Hübner (type species paranympha Linnaeus, Europe); Eucora Hübner (type species neonympha Esper, Russia); Eunetis Hübner (type species amasia Esper, Italy & Turkey, = puerpera Giorna); Hemigeometra Haworth (type species fraxini); Lamprosia Hübner (type species amatrix Hübner, N. America); Mormonia Hübner (type species epiona Hübner, N. America); Ulotrichopus Wallengren (type species tortuosus Wallengren, S. Africa).

Mitter & Silverfine (1988) grouped Ulotrichopus as a clade within Catocala and stated that they are ‘linked by a great many characters of partially overlapping distribution’, though only two were clearly indicated as fixed synapomorphies: a simple (rather than bifid or appendiculate) pretarsal claw; unique fusion of the ventral, membranous part of the apical part of the valve (the valvula) entirely covering the outer surface of the costa which is arched, framing the valvula. The larvae may also provide a further synapomorphy in the form of a lateral fringe of filaments, though larval data for the Audea clade are limited. A similar feature is seen in Erygia Guenée (p. 130).

Species are generally large, with cryptic, finely etched bark-like markings on the forewings, but striking hindwing pattern consisting of broad black bands on flash coloration of red, orange, yellow or even blue. In the
Ulotrichopus clade the forewings tend to be narrower and the flash coloration more muted, yellow or whitish. The male antennae are fasciculate.

The general features of the male and female genitalia have been described in the tribal description and above, and are those that also contribute to the grouping of
Ulotrichopus within Catocala in the analysis of Mitter & Silverfine; some were used in the definition of Catocala by Fibiger (2003). The larvae are of the ophiusine type (see p. 22) with lateral fringes, but only slight reduction of the abdominal prolegs. The pupae generally have a bloom (p. 23).

Catocala is extremely diverse throughout the Holarctic, where the species show specialism each to a limited number of broadleafed tree taxa from nine families. This paradox of combination of monophagy or oligophagy within a diversity of host families is currently under investigation (Mitter & Silverfine, 1988); they noted that the terminal group of Ulotrichopus clade included three species recorded from Acacia (Leguminosae). This clade is essentially tropical.

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