Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

11 September 2005   11:57PM EST  (top left)
11 September 2005   11:15PM EST  (top right)
4 July 2005   12:34AM EST  (bottom)

My initial identification of Evergestis pallidata was based on Covell (1984), and subsequently checked against Munroe, E., The Moths of North America North of Mexico, Fascicle 13.1, Pyraloidea Pyralidae (Part) (London: E.W. Classey, 1972-1974) and specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.

Evergestis pallidata has broad wings of straw yellow with variable amounts of gray-brown shading and dusting. The basal line is sometimes faintly visible as a fine gray-brown line with an outward angle.  A fine gray-brown line crosses the medial area, interrupted just below the costa by a "knot" of small loops in the line.  The postmedial line is also gray-brown.  The darkest shading is in the terminal area, often enclosing a clearer yellow patch just before the outer margin.  The hindwing is yellowish, with a faint postmedial line, and purplish gray-brown shading along the outer margin.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan from 2.0 to 2.9 cm for this species.

The larva of Evergestis pallidata, also known as the Purple-backed Cabbageworm, feeds on various members of the Cruciferae family, including cabbage, horseradish, radish, turnip and other plants (Munroe, 1973). Munroe notes that this species is double-brooded in the northeastern part of North America.

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