Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

9 May 2004   9:53PM EST  (top)
5 May 2003   9:34PM EST  (center)
17 May 2003   9:40PM EST  (bottom left)
13 May 2004   10:29PM EST  (bottom right)

Zale lunifera, termed the Bold-Based Zale by Covell (1984), is one of a dozen species of Zale that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers. comm., 2001).

Zale lunifera is readily distinguished from other Zale species that occur in my area, thanks to its whitish crescent-shaped reniform spot that gives rise to its species name, "moon-bearing."  The forewing is gray-brown overall, with variable amounts of shading lighter or darker.  The basal area is generally quite dark gray.  The black antemedial line is well defined, and often emphasized by a brownish line along its inner edge, and white shading along its outer edge.  The median area is palest next to the am line, shading to dark gray-brown just before the postmedial line.  The pale reniform spot stands out against the dark background.  The double postmedial line is black, filled with brown, and is not always immediately noticeable because of the dark shading on either side of it.  A jagged and scalloped subterminal line is usually evident, followed by the paler gray terminal area.  The terminal line is usually evident as a series of white dots along the outer margin.  Much of the wing is overlain with many short dark parallel lines, giving it a somewhat textured appearance.  The hindwing is lighter gray-brown, with many parallel lines.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan of 3.7 to 4.5 cm.

According to Covell (1984), the larvae of Zale lunifera feed on black cherry and white pine.  Handfield (1999) indicates an adult flight season from before mid-April to late June for my general area.

My records to date for Zale lunifera (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: