There is no greater surprise in store for a student of moths than
to locate a first Catocala Amatrix, and see the softly blended
grey front wings suddenly lift, and the vivid red of the back
ones flash out. The under sides of the front wings are a warm
creamy tan, crossed by wide bands of dark brown and grey-brown,
ending in a delicate grey mist at the edges. The back wings are
the same tan shade, with red next the abdomen, and crossed by
brown bands of deeper shade than the fore-wings. The shoulders
are covered with long silky hair like the front wings. This is so
delicate that it becomes detached at the slightest touch of vine or
leaf. The abdomen is slightly lighter in colour on top, and a
creamy tan beneath. The legs are grey, and the feet to the first
joint tan, crossed by faint lines of brown.
The head is small, with big prominent eyes that see better by day
than most night moths; for Catocala takes precipitate flight at
the merest shadow. The antennae are long, delicate and threadlike,
and must be broken very easily in the flight of the moth.
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