Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

28 May 2002   10:20PM EST  (top left)
29 May 2002   10:27PM EST  (top right)
9 May 2001  8:59PM EST  (center left)
19 June 2001  1:42AM EST  (center right)
2 July 2002   11:16PM EST  (bottom left)
22 May 2002   11:35PM EST  (bottom right)

The forewing of Ellida caniplaga is pale gray, usually mottled and with undefined areas that are whitish or warm brown.  Many of the specimens I see at my location have a patch of brown in the upper subterminal area near the costa, although such markings are sometimes almost completely absent as in the bottom left photo.  Covell (1984) notes the triple antemedial line as a distinguishing characteristic of this species; this line becomes much less distinct to the point of almost disappearing halfway across the wing.  The postmedial line is usually much less distinct in my local specimens, although an adterminal line, represented by a row of black dashes near the outer margin, is usually very evident.  The reniform spot shows as a black crescent surrounded by white.  This species, when not resting in a flattish position, often takes the shape of a peaked roof, and may even look almost as if its wings are beginning to roll around its body; even in the flatter position, the wings often look somewhat convex.  The hindwing is gray-brown, darkening somewhat toward the outer margin. 

The larvae of Ellida caniplaga feed on basswood (linden), and this species is sometimes called the Linden Moth.  According to Handfield (1999), the adult moth may be observed in my general area from the end of April until about mid-July.

I have photographed this species in 2001 on 9, 16 and 22 May, and on 11 and 19 June; in 2002 on 5, 22, 26, 29 and 29 May, on 11 June, and on 2, 14 and 29 July.