Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

5 June 2003   8:37PM EST  (top left)
19 May 2003   10:55PM EST  (top right)
16 June 2003   9:06PM EST  (bottom)

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.  Lacking other resources for identification, my identification is therefore tentative pending expert confirmation based on specimens collected.

Epiblema scudderiana is one of some 8 species of Epiblema known to occur in the Ottawa area.  It tends to rest with its wings almost rolled around its body, presenting the shape of a small cylinder, the top third of which is dark brown to black, the center third of which is off-white, and the outer third of which is patterned in gray, black and, at the apex and outer margin, dark brown.  The medial area is also usually marked with some gray patterning toward the costa and may have stray gray spots in the whitish area.  A series of short diagonal stripes originates along the outer third of the costal edge, becoming more pronounced towards the apex.  I have not measured the wing length of Epiblema scudderiana, but estimate it at a little more than 10 mm.

The larval host plant of Epiblema scudderiana is goldenrod, and the common name of this species is the Goldenrod Gall Moth.  Research has been carried out at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada regarding the life cycle of this species ( http://www.carleton.ca/~kbstorey/insects.htm ), with a particular focus on its cold hardiness.

I have photographed this species in 2001, on 15 June; in 2002, on 4 and 5 June; in 2003, on 19, 23 and 27 May, and on 5, 14, 16 and 20 June.