Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

10 July 2003   10:21PM EDT  (top)
18 July 2003   10:20PM EDT  (bottom)

Apamea amputatrix is one of about 20 species of Apamea known to occur in the Ottawa area, and the Apamea most commonly observed at my location.

The forewing of Apamea amputatrix is predominantly a rich dark wine-red.  The antemedial and postmedial lines are usually clearly visible, somewhat grayish in color.  The orbicular spot is gray-filled, with a thin pale outline.  The reniform spot is much more evident, with its discontinuous white outline of which the two very white spots at the lower end easily catch the eye.  In the subterminal area, a pale grayish band extends to the apex, shaded with rust-brown inside the subterminal line.  Except at the apex, there is dark gray shading beyond the st line.  The hind wing is dirty beige, shaded with grayish brown towards the outer margin.  The wingspan is about 4.4 to 5 cm (Covell, 1983).

The larva of Apamea amputatrix, commonly called the Yellow-Headed Cutworm, feeds on a wide variety of plants, including cabbage, corn, currants, grasses, lettuce, roses and wheat (Covell, 1983).  Handfield (1999) indicates an adult flight season from early June to late August for my general area. 

I have photographed this species in 2000, on 5 August; in 2001, on 12 July and on 1 August; in 2002, on 20 June, and on 9, 28 and 29 July; in 2003, on 9, 10, 13, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 26 July.