Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

6 August 2003   9:02PM EST  (top)
8 August 2004   9:02PM EST  (bottom)

My initial identification of Phlyctaenia coronata was based on Covell (1984), and subsequently checked against Munroe, E., in Dominick, R.B. et al., The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 13.2A, Pyraloidea Pyralidae (Part) (London: E.W. Classey, 1976).  I have also relied on Forbes, William T.M., The Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States, Primitive Forms, Microlepidoptera, Pyraloids, Bombyces (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, 1923).  The North American subspecies is identified as Phlyctaenia coronata tertialis.

Phlyctaenia coronata tertialis is somewhat variable in appearance, but generally has wings heavily shaded with gray-brown, with patches of a pale straw-color.  Most of the specimens observed at my location have been at the darker end of the color range illustrated in Munroe (1976).  In the median, a pale square patch has near-black marks at its inner and outer ends.  The blackish postmedial line is followed at the costa by a pale straw-colored area.  The line curves strongly outward midway down the wing to enclose another patch of pale straw-color, often strongly toothed in the outermost section.  On the hindwing, the postmedial line similarly bulges outward to enclose a pale patch, and is typically followed by a toothed white line.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.2 cm for this species. 

According to Munroe (1976), the principal host plant for Phlyctaenia coronata tertialis is elder (Sambucus), but the larvae are also leaf-webbers and shoot borers on a variety of other shrubs and low plants. Forbes (1923) indicates adult flight seasons from May to July and in August.

My records to date for Phlyctaenia coronata tertialis (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: