Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

27 June 2003   11:50PM EDT (left)
2 July 2003   2:09AM EDT  (right)

Meganola spodia is one of two species of Meganola recorded from the Ottawa area.

The forewing of Meganola spodia is pale gray, somewhat mottled in appearance.  Three tufts of pale gray scales protrude in a row near the costa (see photo at right above).  The antemedial line is a single fine dark gray line that is usually clear and complete.  The double postmedial line is slightly scalloped near the inner margin, but swings outward in a U-shape near the costa.  There is dark brownish-gray shading beginning at the costa and extending between and sometimes beyond the two outermost scale tufts.  There is also a narrow strip of dark gray adjacent to the costa in the basal area.  There are vague indications of subterminal and terminal lines with some darker shading near the outer margin.  The hindwing is whitish, slightly shaded with pale gray.  I estimate the wingspan to be similar to that of Meganola minuscula (Hodges 8983), in the range of 1.4 to 2.4 cm.

The larvae of Meganola spodia feed on bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and possibly other oaks (Handfield, 1999).  Handfield postulates an adult flight season from mid-June to mid-July for my general area.

I have recorded this species in 2000, on 4 July; in 2001, on 18, 21 and 23 June; in 2002, on 26 and 30 June, and on 3 July; in 2003, on 27 June, and on 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11 July.