Catocala fraxini (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: Aug. 2, 2025, 12:09 p.m.
A local and very rare species in Belgium, more frequent in the south of Belgium.
This species is considered Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Erebidae > Subfamily: Erebinae > Tribus: Catocalini > Genus: Catocala > Species: Catocala fraxini
- Vernacular names
- Blauw weeskind (NL), Clifden Nonpareil (EN), La Lichénée bleue (FR), Blaues Ordensband (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 14 (as Catocala fraxini L.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
Hibernates as an egg in a bark crevice on the food plant. Pupates in a silken cocoon spun between leaves or among leaf litter. The adults come to light and sugar.
Flight periods
The adults fly in one generation a year, usually from mid-August till half of October, sometimes till early November, but most specimens were seen during September.
When weather conditions are very good, the species can be observed exceptionally from the end of June.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Populus tremula
The larva lives mainly on Populus tremula, but also on other Populus species.
