Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

6 July 2005   1:15AM EST  (top left)
5/6 July 2005   (date of moth capture)  (top right, bottom left and right)
All photos are of the same specimen.

Vaxi auratella is one of two species of Vaxi that occur in the Ottawa area.  My initial identification of this species was based on Covell (1984).  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).

The forewing of Vaxi auratella is silver white.  A band of bright orange-yellow crosses the middle of the wing, sometimes showing some brownish edging.  This band widens at the inner margin, and the orange-yellow color extends in a narrow line outward to the anal angle.  The fringe is also orange-yellow, preceded by a fine dark terminal line.  The hindwing is entirely white.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.8 cm for this species.

According to Covell (1984), the host plant for Vaxi auratella is unrecorded. Forbes (1923) indicates an adult flight season in July.

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