Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

20 July 2003   9:24PM EST  (left)
26 July 2003   10:04PM EST  (center and right)
The photos at center and right are of the same specimen.

My thanks to Dr. P.T. Dang of the Canadian Forest Service for identifying the specimen picture at center and right above, which has been given to the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.

Platynota exasperatana is one of two species of Platynota known to occur in the Ottawa area.  The forewing is a very pale gray, shaded with darker gray to black, especially in the median and basal areas, and marked with traces of black lines.  There may be lighter blotches in the median along the costa.  I would estimate the wing length to be about 8 mm.

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

I have photographed this species in 2000, on 20 July; in 2003, on 8, 26 and 30 July.