Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

27 May 2005   10:08PM EST  (top left)
16 June 2005   9:33PM EST  (top right)
8 June 2005   9:45PM EST  (bottom left)
31 May 2004   8:41PM EST  (bottom right)

My thanks to Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine and Dr. Jean-François Landry of Agriculture Canada for confirming some of my identifications for this species, based on comparison with specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa, and on Hodges, R.W., The Moths of North America North of Mexico, Fascicle 6.2, Gelechioidea Oecophoridae (London: E.W. Classey, 1974).

Bibarrambla allenella is somewhat variable in appearance, the forewing color ranging from quite a pale gray to quite a dark gray color.  To the inexperienced eye, it may vaguely resemble some of the Acleris-type tortricid moths, especially if it has its wings overlapped so as to narrow its overall outline as in the top left photo.  The key markings to watch for are two transverse marks at about one-third and two-thirds of the way along the wing, emphasized by small scale tufts that may shine whitish if the light is from the right angle.  In paler specimens, the area beyond these marks may appear suffused with yellow to reddish brown scales, as in the specimen at top right.  A number of dark gray markings are usually evident spaced along the costa.  A terminal line of dark gray dashes precedes the gray fringe.  The hindwing is light and grayish.  With regard to size, Hodges (1974) indicates a wing length from 8.5 to 10.5 mm.

According to Hodges (1974), the larvae of Bibarrambla allenella are leaf-tiers on alder and birch.  He indicates an adult flight season from late spring through midsummer.

My records to date for Bibarrambla allenella (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: