Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

19 June 2003   10:13PM EDT  (top)
6 August 2003   9:11PM EDT  (center)
4 June 2003   10:06PM EDT  (bottom left)
17 June 2003   12:06AM EDT  (bottom right)

Hypena abalienalis is one of about 10 species of Hypena recorded from the Ottawa area.

The forewing of Hypena abalienalis is a rich dark brown, sometimes blackish, sometimes with a slight orangish cast.  The antemedial line is usually evident as paler brown or white, with a strong outward point near the inner margin.  According to Covell (1983) the am line is white and conspicuous only in the female.  The postmedial line is double white, filled with grayish or orangish brown, describing a fairly smooth outward curve.  Outside the pm line, there is a whitish patch at the apex, and a variable amount of whitish overlay in the terminal area towards the anal angle.  The hindwing is dark brown.  Covell indicates a wingspan from 2.5 to 3.3 cm, noting that the male is usually larger than the female.

Hypena abalienalis can be distinguished from Hypena palparia (Hodges 8444) by the smoothly curved, as opposed to toothy, postmedial line.  I should note that there is also some similarity in overall "idea" to the geometrid Ecliptopera silaceata (Hodges 8213a), but the differences are immediately apparent in any direct comparison.

The larvae of Hypena abalienalis feed on elm (Covell, 1983; Handfield, 1999).  Handfield indicates two generations per year for my general area, with adult flight seasons from mid-May to early July, and from before mid-July to mid-August.

I have recorded this species in 2000, on 4 July; in 2001, on 10 May, on 24 July, and on 16 August; in 2002, on 4, 25 and 29 June, on 5, 17 and 29 July, and on 11 August; in 2003, on 4, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 28 June, on 10, 14 and 21 July, and on 6, 16 and 19 August; in 2004, on 17 May.