Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

12 June 2003   9:35PM EDT  (left)
9 July 2003   9:33PM EDT  (right)

Rivula propinqualis, also known as the Spotted Grass Moth, is a small noctuid with wingspan 1.5 to 1.9 cm (Covell, 1983).

The forewing and hindwing are pale yellow with brown antemedial and postmedial lines.  A brown terminal line is also usually evident.  On the forewing, in the area of the reniform spot, there is a dark brown blotch which often extends to the costa and nearly out to the apex, with two small dark dots marking the location of the reniform spot.  There may also be slight brown shading just inside the terminal line.  The hindwing usually shows just a pale trace of a postmedial line.

The larvae of Rivula propinqualis are believed to feed on grasses, although the actual host plant(s) are apparently unknown (Handfield, 1999).  Handfield indicates an adult flight season from early June to the end of August for my general area, but I have photographed this species as late as October.

I have recorded this species in 2000, on 24 and 28 June, on 20 and 29 August, and on 7 September; in 2001, on 9 June, and on 11 October; in 2003, on 12, 19, 23 and 30 June, on 9 and 25 July, on 2, 7, 8, 13 and 16 August, and on 20 September.