Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

14 July 2004   11:29PM EST  (top left)
16 July 2003   10:10PM EST  (top right)
23 June 2005   9:38PM EST  (bottom)

My initial identification of this species was based on comparison with specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.  Thanks to Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada for access to this resource.  I have also consulted Forbes, William T.M., The Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States, Primitive Forms, Microlepidoptera, Pyraloids, Bombyces (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, 1923).

Urola nivalis has silvery white wings with the sheen of satin, and characteristically rests with its wings tented around its body.  A small dark mark is consistently evident at the midpoint of the inner margin of the forewing.  The terminal line consists of fine dark dashes.  The fringe is beige, sometimes showing a yellowish line along its base.  The hindwing is completely white.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan from 1.5 to 2.3 cm.

According to Covell (1984), the larvae of Urola nivalis feed on grasses. Forbes (1923) indicates the adult moth is quite common in grassland in New York State in June and July.

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