Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

15 May 2003   8:28PM EST  (top left)
16 May 2003  (top right and bottom)

All three photographs are of the same specimen, which was captured, photographed again the following day, and then released.

Feralia comstocki is a refreshing sight in the early spring, when so many of the moths observed are relatively drab gray or brown in color.  The forewing is bright green with a complex pattern of black and white markings.  The antemedial and postmedial lines are black and scalloped, edged with white on the medial side.  A black median line is also evident, especially at the costal edge and near the inner margin.  The orbicular, claviform and reniform spots are green-filled, outlined in white, and partially further outlined in black.  Each of these three spots is followed by a squared-off black blotch.  The outer margin is dotted black with white accents just inside the fringe.  The hindwing is a dirty cream color, with a blackish discal spot, postmedial line and some shading in the terminal area.  The head and thorax of this moth are green.

The larvae of Feralia comstocki feed on a variety of evergreen trees, including balsam fir, hemlock, spruce and pine (Covell, 1983).  According to Handfield (1999) the adult's flight season in my general area is from the end of April nearly to mid-June.  I have rarely observed this species, however, perhaps because of the paucity of evergreen trees in my immediate vicinity.

I have photographed Feralia comstocki only once to date, in 2003, on 15-16 May.