Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

15 April 2005   9:48PM EST

My thanks to J.T. Troubridge of Agriculture Canada for confirming the identification of this specimen, which was spotted on my wall by two visiting collectors, who immediately recognized it and drew it to my attention.

Brachionycha borealis has a medium gray forewing with a rather streaky appearance.  Although at first glance it appears to have few distinguishing characteristics, on closer examination it is possible to see a number of features in common with other members of the Psaphidini tribe.  The antemedial and postmedial lines are black and scalloped; the pm line curves sharply outwards just below the costal and recurves fairly sharply inwards close to the inner margin, similar to the shape of the pm line curve in Psaphida styracis.  The median area is a slightly darker gray than the basal and subterminal areas.  Orbicular and reniform spots have blackish outlines with medium to light gray filling.  The hairy-looking thorax has the same somewhat tousled appearance as other Psaphidini and Feraliini species.  The hindwing is whitish with dark veins and a dark spot near the center.  In size, Brachionycha borealis is somewhat larger than other Psaphidini.

According to Handfield (1999), the larvae of Brachionycha borealis feed on birch and blueberry.  Handfield postulates a flight season from about mid-April to late May for my general area.

My sole record to date for observing Brachionycha borealis (each date representing "the night of") is in the table below: