Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

15 July 2002   12:17AM EST  (top)
15 July 2002   1:03AM EST  (center left)
19 June 2001   2:45AM EST  (center right)
6 July 2002   12:36AM EST  (bottom)

The first two photos are of the same specimen.

Heterocampa biundata is one of several species of Heterocampa that may occur in my general area, some of which are quite similar to each other.  Heterocampa biundata, in particular, is easy to confuse with Heterocampa guttivitta (7994), which is also illustrated on this web site.  Thanks to Dr. A.W. Thomas (formerly of NRCAN) and Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine (Agriculture Canada), I also learned that both these Heterocampa species have quite a green color when fresh, but tend to look much more gray or brown in older specimens.  In general, Heterocampa biundata is larger, bulkier and a little less mottled than Heterocampa guttivitta.  While I am fairly confident that I've correctly identified the specimens illustrated and referred to on this web page, there remain a number of unidentified photographs in my files that are simply labeled as Heterocampa.

The forewing of Heterocampa biundata is quite green, fading to brown in older specimens.  The antemedial and postmedial lines are double and scalloped, marked in black with lighter filling that may appear orangish in very fresh specimens.  The reniform spot is marked with a black crescent on a white to beige background.  In the subterminal area, black wedges mark the subterminal line.

The hindwing is mostly gray.  In the bottom photo, where it protrudes beyond the costa of the forewing, the leading edge of the hindwing can be seen to continue the color and pattern of the forewing.

The larvae of Heterocampa biundata feed on birch, maple, elm, hickory, oak and a variety of other deciduous trees.  Handfield (1999) indicates a flight season for the adult moth in my general area from early June into the last half of July.

I have photographed this species in 2001 on 19 June; in 2002, on 6 and 15 July.