Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

23 September 2006   7:54PM EST  (top left)
2 September 2006   9:43PM EST  (top right)
26 August 2006   8:36PM EST  (bottom left)
18 August 2006   10:43PM EST  (bottom right)

My identification of Endothenia hebesana, also known as the Verbena Bud Moth, is based on Internet resources and 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 useful account of the species may be found on the website of the Strickland Museum of the University of Alberta.

The forewing of Endothenia hebesana is generally brown, heavily patterned in various shades of brown ranging from blackish to tan.  In fresh specimens, parts of the wing often appear washed with bluish purple, and there may be touches of reddish brown associated with the tan areas.  The outermost third of the wing is somewhat lighter in color, with some lengthwise gray striations, and its markings follow the overall pattern common to many species in the Olethreutini tribe.  Near the middle of the inner margin, a triangular tan patch is usually evident, bounded on the inner edge by a waved paler line. The darkest area of the wing is usually near the midpoint of the costa.  Note also the reddish brown scale tuft at the posterior end of the thorax.  Forbes (1923) indicates a wingspan of 9 to 16 mm.

According to Forbes (1923) and Internet sources, the larvae of Endothenia hebesana feed on verbena, iris, goldenrod, mullein and pitcher plant, and possibly other flowering plants.  He indicates an adult flight season from June to the end of September.

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