Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

18 June 2004  (date of moth capture)  (top)
18 June 2004   11:14PM EST  (bottom)
Both photos are of the same specimen.

Paectes oculatrix, also known as the Eyed Paectes, has a distinctive appearance unlike any other moth found in the Ottawa area.  The forewing is light bluish gray.  There is an oval whitish patch in the center of the basal area, extending outward, bordered with black along the lower edge, and shaded lightly with orange-pink.  A darker orange-pink streak extends from the outer end of this oval, parallel with the costa, nearly to the outer margin.  The postmedial line curves from the inner margin to create an oval outline filled with variable gray, brown and whitish shading that forms a large prominent "eye" at the anal angle; the postmedial line does not extend to the costa.  Adjacent shades of white and orange-pink further define this "eye".  The hindwing is grayish brown.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.5 cm.

According to Handfield (1999), the larvae of Paectes oculatrix feed on poison ivy, making this a highly desirable species for expansion in Ottawa, the poison ivy capital of Canada.  For my general area, Handfield indicates an adult flight season from about mid-June into the first half of August.

My only record to date for Paectes oculatrix (each date representing "the night of") is in the table below: