Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

4 July 2003   9:01PM EST  (right and left)
Both photos are of the same specimen.

My identification of this species is based on comparison of my photos with specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa, to which access was kindly arranged by Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada.  Nearly 40 Olethreutes species are known to occur in the Ottawa area, and many of them are very similar in appearance.  Many also exhibit great variability of appearance within the species.  My identification is therefore tentative pending expert confirmation based on specimens collected.

Olethreutes exoletus is quite plain in appearance in comparison to most other Olethreutes species, lacking the complex contrasting markings characteristic of many.  Traces of the typical complex lines and spots, however, are still evident on the pale grayish tan area of the wing.  The costal edge and outer margin of the forewing show the beginnings of the various lines in a medium-light brown, with a pale brown shade, darkest at the costa, extending across the median.  At the apex, there is a well-defined squarish spot of very dark brown to black.  The back end of the thorax is dark brown, and a dark brown band extends diagonally outward in the basal area of the forewing, so that the moth at rest with wings closed has an inverted V in the center of its back.  I have not measured the wing length of this species, but estimate it at less than 10 mm.

I have no information on the larval host plant or life cycle of this species.

I have photographed this species in 2003, on 4 and 7 July.