Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

8 October 2003   7:21PM EDT  (top and center)
8 October 2003   10:25PM EDT  (bottom)
All three photographs are of the same specimen.

The forewing of Plathypena scabra is generally dark blackish brown, and quite narrow.  The antemedial line is an inconspicuous zigzag.  The postmedial line is more evident, dark brown with lighter brown along the inside edge, and a V-shaped outward point shortly below the costa.  The basal and median areas are the darkest areas of the wing, but immediately outside the pm line, the wing is lighter and more gray.  The subterminal line is an inconspicuous series of dark dots, and may have darker shading beyond it along the central part of the outer margin.  A lighter streak along the costa between the pm line and the apex sometimes defines a noticeable apical patch, but the outline and contrast are often muted as in the specimen illustrated above.  Note the tuft of scales protruding from the back of the thorax in the bottom photo.  The hindwing is dark gray-brown with a lighter fringe, and much broader than the forewing.  Covell (1983) indicates a wingspan from 2.5 to 3.5 cm, with the male usually larger than the female of the species.

The larva of Plathypena scabra, known as the Green Cloverworm, feeds on clover, alfalfa, beans, soybeans and other legumes (Covell, 1983).  For my general area, Handfield (1999) indicates two generations per year, with adult flight seasons from mid-June to mid-August, and from mid-August to late October.

I have recorded this species in 2000, on 10 September; in 2002, on 17 and 26 September, and on 10 November; in 2003, on 8 October.