Heat wave underwings

July 21-24 New Hampshire experienced a heat wave complete with oppressive humidity. The sultry summer nights brought out a wonderful variety of insects including three species of Catocala (underwing) moths.

The moth on the top is an Epione underwing (Catocala epione) and is the largest of the three with a wingspan of 5 cm. The moth on the bottom left is called girlfriend underwing (Catocala amica) with a wingspan of about 2.3 cm. The moth on the bottom right is a gloomy underwing (Catocala andromedae) with a wingspan of 3.8 cm. Wingspan measurements are as the moths are shown.

Luna moth caterpillar

Here in southern New Hampshire we have been experiencing a heat wave with yesterdays temperature reaching about 102 degrees F.

Yesterday afternoon I spotted a large green caterpillar in the driveway and found it was dead. The caterpillar was that of a Luna moth (Actias luna).

I am not sure what the cause of death was but the prolegs were blackened and appeared damaged. My guess is the caterpillar was parasitized by some other insect possibly a parasitoid wasp. The caterpillar seems to have fallen from a shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) which grows beside the driveway.