Sordid Underwing Moth (Catocala sordida) – Hodges#8846

<a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/135464" rel="nofollow">BugGuide</a> / <a href="http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8846" rel="nofollow">MPG</a> / <a href="http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/catsordida.htm" rel="nofollow">Oehlke</a>

The moth was found in a tub of water outside after the recent rainstorms. The damage to the left forewing must have happened while the moth was struggling in the water, or perhaps it just dried at an odd angle. I have had some trouble identifying this since the forewing pattern is very worn, and what I can see does not match up well with the photographs I've looked at so far.

It seems to fit Sordid Underwing, or something liked it, on the basis of the hindwing pattern: two black bands, the inner band forming a complete loop, the outer band interrupted near the inner margin, and white spot at the apex. The overall darkness of the forewings, especially along the inner margin, also seems to fit. However, a few points about it seem odd:

1. The forewing costa looks darkened, as opposed to the typical lighter costa of the Catocala moths. 2. The pattern formed by the AM and PM lines is mostly missing (washed off by the water?). 3. The hindwing has a dark costa, which doesn't appear in most of the pinned Catocala specimens I've seen.