Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

2 August 2004   10:43PM EST  (left)
8 July 2005   10:27PM EST  (right)

My identification of Opostega cretea is tentative, based on the description of this species in Forbes, William T.M., The Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States, Primitive Forms, Microlepidoptera, Pyraloids, Bombyces (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, 1923), a look at Opostega specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa, and the understanding that Opostega cretea was the only Opostega species recorded from the Ottawa area as of about 2001 (J.D. Lafontaine, pers. comm., 2001).  It must be recognized, however, that there are several very similar species, and until I succeed in capturing a specimen, it is impossible to confirm the occurrence of Opostega cretea at my location.

Opostega cretea is a tiny moth, with a wingspan of only 8 to 9 mm (Forbes, 1923). The forewing is white, with an oblique, dark gray spot near the midpoint of the inner margin, which forms an inverted V shape when the wings are closed.  Forbes refers to a minute black apical spot, and to lines in the forewing fringe, none of which can be distinguished in the photos above.

According to Forbes (1923), the adult Opostega cretea flies in July and August.  He gives no specific information as to host plant, but indicates the larva of one similar-appearing Opostega species is a bast-miner on gooseberry and currant.

My only records to date for Opostega cretea (tentative identification) (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: