Species Details

ABH: 72.081

BF: 2455

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Erebinae

Taxon: Catocala sponsa

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1767)

Vernacular: Dark Crimson Underwing

Account: A vulnerable Red Data Book species, in ancient oak woodland in parts of New Forest, also appearing as a migrant in the south, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Confined as a breeding species to the New Forest in Hampshire. Formerly there were colonies in south Wiltshire until at least 1949. Occasional specimens reported from elsewhere in southern England, including several from north Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, are believed to be migrating or dispersing individuals. Wingspan 58-78 mm. The most likely confusion species are Red Underwing C. nupta and Light Crimson Underwing C. promissa, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Pedunculate Oak and Sessile Oak, over-wintering as an egg.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 58 — 78 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 10 Jul (2025) — 6 Oct (2023)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Quercus sp. (an oak).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Near Threatened (NT)

UK BAP: BAP

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/catocala-sponsa/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 161

Individuals: 297

Earliest Year: 1892

Latest Year: 2025

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