Catocala benjamini

Brower, 1937

Benjamin's underwing

benjamini, or Benjamin's underwing, is a in the Erebidae. The was first described by Auburn Edmund Brower in 1937. It was formerly considered a of Catocala andromache but is now recognized as a distinct species. are active in June with likely one per year.

Catocala benjamini by (c) Hawks DC, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Catocala benjamini YPM ENT 781715 D by Howard, A. S.. Used under a CC0 license.

Catocala benjamini YPM ENT 781715 V by Howard, A. S.. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Catocala benjamini: //kæ.toʊˈkɑː.lə bɛn.dʒəˈmiː.naɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Formerly treated as a of andromache; distinguished as a separate based on morphological and geographic criteria. Specific diagnostic characters for field identification from similar underwing are not documented in available sources.

Images

Habitat

Associated with oak ; larvae feed on Quercus gambelii (Gambel oak), indicating dependence on oak woodland or forest .

Distribution

Found in the US states of Arizona, Nevada, southern California, and southern Utah. Four are recognized with more restricted ranges: C. b. benjamini (south-eastern California, Arizona, southern Nevada, south-western Utah), C. b. mayhewi (desert-facing slopes of mountain ranges in southern California), C. b. jumpi (Kofa Mountains, Arizona), and C. b. ute (Grand and San Juan counties, south-eastern Utah).

Seasonality

are on wing in June. Probably one per year.

Diet

Larvae feed on Quercus gambelii (Gambel oak). diet not documented.

Host Associations

Quercus gambelii - larval plantGambel oak

Life Cycle

Likely (one per year), based on the observation that are on wing in June with no evidence of a second period.

Similar Taxa

Catocala andromacheFormerly considered ; C. benjamini was described as a of C. andromache before being elevated to status.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described as a of andromache, later recognized as a distinct . Four subspecies were described between 2009 and 2010, reflecting geographic variation across its range.