Species Nycteola metaspilella - Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978

8978

Nycteola scriptana

described in 1866 by Walker, who originally placed it in genus Subrita

wingspan about 23 mm, based on photos by Jim Vargo at MPG

larva length to 25 mm

Adult: based on Internet photos linked to below, forewing light gray with blackish wedge-shaped claviform spot being the most prominent and darkest marking; basal, AM, PM, and subterminal lines jagged or wavy, indistinct and often broken or partial; slightly darker shading in upper median area; no black at base of wing; overall, a poorly-contrasting "washed out" version of Nycteola frigidana; hindwing dirty white to pale gray, darker near outer margin; fringe pale

Larva: body yellowish-green, smooth, elongate, cylindrical with long soft hairs; longest dorsal hairs (D2) nearly three times length of segment that bears them; hairs especially long rearward; body translucent with deep green heart stripe and pale spiracular stripe which is in fact the internal tracheal trunk; spiracles pale brown, very small

[adapted from description by David Wagner]

Ontario and New York to Florida; distribution not known with certainty due to historic confusion with Nycteola frigidana

stream edges, forest edges, fields

adults fly from July to September

mature larvae present in June/July and again in August/September

larvae feed on leaves of willow and poplar

two generations per year; overwinters as an adult

forewing of Nycteola frigidana and cinereana has heavier and more distinct markings, darker upper half of median area, relatively less conspicuous claviform spot, and some amount of black at base of wing (compare images of all 3 species at CBIF and at MPG)

BOLD

MPG

pinned adult image and photos of related species (CBIF)