Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

31 August 2003  9:24PM EDT

Amphipyra pyramidoides is known as the Copper Underwing, because of its coppery red hindwings.  The group of moths collectively known as the underwing moths, however, belong to the genus Catocala in the noctuid subfamily Catocalinae, whereas A. pyramidoides is in the Amphipyrinae subfamily.

If this moth can be persuaded to show its coppery hindwing, the color is an excellent clue to identification.  Unfortunately, in my experience A. pyramidoides is very shy about having its hindwing photographed, tending to rest with its wings closed and, if open, to snap them shut the moment a camera comes within range.

The forewing of Amphipyra pyramidoides is dark brown in color.  The antemedial and postmedial lines are usually visible as black scalloped lines edged with tan to whitish on the side away from the median.  There is a black streak from the am line extending outward through the median, against which the tan to whitish orbicular and reniform spots tend to stand out.  The subterminal area is dark tan, and the subterminal line is shaded dark brown along its inner side.  The wings often appear very shiny.  The wingspan is 3.8 to 5.2 cm (Covell, 1983).

Handfield (1999) notes that the larvae of Amphipyra pyramidoides feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including basswood, elm and white oak. He also indicates that the flight season for the adult moth runs from early July to late September in my general area.  At my location, however, I have also observed this species as late as the end of October on several occasions.

I have photographed this species in 2000, on 29 August, and on 1 and 10 September; in 2001, on 22 July, 3 August, 20 September, and on 11 and 14 October; in 2002, on 10 and 13 August; in 2003, on 30 July, on 4, 5, 7, 11, 19, 20 and 31 August, on 11, 18, 19 and 22 September, and on 8 and 31 October.