Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada 1
April 2005 (moth captured on 31 March 2005) (top left)
30 March 2005 (moth captured on 29 March 2005) (top right)
19 April 2005 9:14PM EST (bottom left)
29 March 2005 10:09PM EST (bottom right)
The two photos at right are of the same specimen.
Lithophane hemina is one of over 20 species of Lithophane
that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers.comm.,
2001). My thanks to Dr. J.D. Lafontaine and Mr. J.T. Troubridge of
Agriculture Canada for confirming the identification of several specimens
about which I was doubtful.
Lithophane hemina is one of several species of
Lithophane with both a dark and a light form, and it has considerable
similarity to Lithophane petulca (not pictured on this web site) in
both forms. The forewing of the dark form of Lithophane hemina ("lignicosta")(photos at left above) is very dark brown, with a very slight reddish cast. The costal edge is light tan with a
number of brownish streaks extending downward from the edge. The orbicular
and reniform spots are outlined and filled with the same tan color and often
appear to merge with the rest of the light area; there may be a darker brown
smudge inside the lower end of the reniform spot. The antemedial and
postmedial lines are not evident, except for some dots indicating the pm
line; the light tan subterminal line, however, is sometimes quite clear, as
in the photo at lower left. There is sometimes a light U-shaped mark
in the dark third of the wing below the orbicular spot. The hindwing
is fairly dark gray brown with lighter fringe.
The light form of Lithophane hemina is tan with many
lines, streaks and shades of brown and light tan. There is a
noticeable dark blotch near the inner margin midway along the wing,
approximately below the orbicular spot. The orbicular and reniform
spots are recognizable on a close look, as are the am, pm and st lines;
these features are obscured to the casual glance, however, because of the
streaking. A darker shade, heavier near the costa, often extends
across the wing between the orbicular and reniform spots. There are often
noticeable dark brown shaded patches in the terminal area, partway along the
outer margin and near the anal angle.
The larvae of Lithophane hemina feed on chokecherry,
birch, maple, oak and other trees. According to Handfield (1999), this
species overwinters as an adult, with flight seasons in my general area from
mid-April to late May, and from just before mid-September to late October.
My records to date for Lithophane hemina (each date
representing "the night of") are in the table below: | 
