Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lithophane fagina – Morrison, 1874
* phylogenetic sequence #932548
Explanation of Names
HOARY PINION: refers to the hoary white strip along the costa of the forewing
Numbers
52
Lithophane species occur in America north of Mexico.
(1)Size
wingspan about 40 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: forewing uniformly light to medium gray with faint black streaks; hoary white strip along basal two-thirds of costa is diagnostic; hindwing dirty yellowish-white with gray veins and pale fringe
Larva: body densely speckled pale green
Range
Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Habitat
deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait
Season
adults fly from late March to early June and again from September through October
Food
larvae feed mainly on leaves of Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera); occasionally on Gray Birch (B. populifolia) and Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) [Handfield, 1999]
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as an adult
Print References
Handfield, Louis. 1999. Les Guides des Papillons du Quebec. Broquet. 662 pp.
Lafontaine JD, Schmidt BC (2010) Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico.
(1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - species account with collection map and photos of pinned adults.
live adult images plus description, foodplants, flight season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)