Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

4 May 2003   8:31PM EST  (top left)
30 April 2003   8:10PM EST  (top right)
28 April 2003   7:45PM EST  (bottom)

Copivaleria grotei, sometimes called Grote's Sallow, gives a first impression of a black and white moth when I see it on my wall.  A closer look, however, reveals that the black is mainly dark olive-green, dark olive-brown and very dark gray.  The orbicular, claviform and reniform spots are usually outlined in white, and may have variable amounts of white filling.  The subterminal line is also marked with white.  The black and white chevron pattern at the inner margin helps me to distinguish this species from other vaguely similar moths that fly at the same time.  The hindwing is dirty white in color, with some gray-brown shading near the outer margin, and with the postmedial line partially marked in black.

At rest, this moth usually spreads its wings fairly flat as in the picture at top right.  Alternatively, rather than folding itself into a tent shape as some other noctuids do, it more or less crumples its wings a little closer in, as in the picture at top left. 

The larvae of Copivaleria grotei feed on ash trees.  Handfield (1999) indicates a flight period from mid-April to late May for my general area, but I have not observed this species at my location later than mid-May.

I have photographed this species in 2001 on 30 April; in 2002 on 19 April, and on 5, 6, 8 and 11 May; in 2003 on 14, 18, 19, 26, 28 and 30 April, and on 4, 5, 7, 9 and 15 May.  A specimen of Copivaleria grotei was collected in April 2003 and given to the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa as part of a suite of five Psaphidini species occurring at my location.