Explanation of Names
SPODIA: from the Greek "spodos" (ashes) - probably a reference to the light gray ground color and/or darker gray patches on the forewing, and the origin of the suggested common name Ashy Meganola
Identification
Adult: forewing light gray with mottled dark gray or blackish blotch halfway along costa, the blotch sometimes extending inward but becoming more diffuse toward inner margin; antemedial line thin, dark, usually complete; postmedial line double, inconspicuously toothed, extending down from costa in U-shaped loop, then continuing across to inner margin; a smaller dark gray patch usually present along costa at base of wing; terminal area with small brown blotches
hindwing dirty light gray (paler near inner margin) with gray discal spot
Range
eastern United States plus Quebec and Ontario
Season
adults fly in June and July in Ontario; May to August in Ohio; probably extended season farther south
Food
larvae feed on Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and possibly other oak species
See Also
Confused Meganola (
M. minuscula) has a whiter forewing that lacks the dark gray blotches, and has a whiter hindwing (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
Other members of Nolinae lack the double postmedial line that forms a U-shaped loop
Internet References
live adult images plus description, seasonality, foodplant (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
live adult images by various photographers (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult image (John Glaser, Maryland)
adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 24 June, 2005 - 2:20am
Last updated 28 April, 2006 - 12:20am
