Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

12 June 2003   9:06PM EST  (left)
27 July 2003   10:01PM EST  (right)

My initial identification of this species was based on comparison with images on the Internet and Covell (1984).  My thanks to Dr. P.T. Dang of the Canadian Forest Service for confirming the identification of the specimen pictured at right above.

Platynota idaeusalis is one of two species of Platynota known to occur in the Ottawa area.  The forewing is light gray, variably shaded with black and brown; the heaviest brown shading usually occurs in the median close to the inner margin, and the palest part of the wing is usually in the basal area near the inner margin.  The black spots mark the location of raised scale tufts.  The thorax is gray, but may be dark or light gray.  According to Covell (1984), the wingspan ranges from 1.2 to 2.5 cm.

The common name of Platynota idaeusalis is Tufted Apple Bud Moth, named for the scale tufts on its wings and that fact that its larvae are a serious pest on apple.  Internet sources indicate that this species has several generations per season, and uses a wide variety of other host plants as well as apple.

I have photographed this species in 2001, on 13 June, and on 10 July; in 2003, on 11, 12 and 19 June, and on 27 July.