Ultronia Underwing moth

Normally, by this point in August, my notebook has been awash in sightings of those enigmatic moths known as Underwings. The night-fliers, which are attracted to the kitchen porch and basement floodlights, get their primary name from the fact that while the top wings come in variations on the drab camouflage theme—they're expert at hiding in plain sight on tree bark—the two underwings often feature bold patterns seemingly designed to startle potential predators and help the moth beat a hasty retreat to safety. This year, however, the Underwings have been conspicuous in their absence, a worrisome trend in keeping with an overall decline in insect populations. Tonight, thank God, we got our first visit from the Catocala clan: a handsome moth known as the Ultronia Underwing. This charmer, also known as the Dark Red Underwing, was named in 1823 by German lepidopterist Jacob Hubner to honor a Greek island.