Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

28 July 2004   (specimen captured 27 July 2004)  (top and bottom)

My thanks to Dr. J. D. Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada for confirming my identification of this specimen.

Covell (1983) describes Homohadena badistriga, also called the Brown-Lined Sallow, as having a brown forewing with variable white scaling and small black streaks in the subterminal area.  On the basis of the small number of specimens I have seen, however, I would describe the forewing as being streaked in dark brown and light tan, lighter in the area nearest the costa and in the median near the inner margin.  The dark brown parts of the basal area combine with the dark brown part of the thorax to present a heavy dark-brown horseshoe shape when the moth is viewed from above in a resting (wings closed) position.  The light tan front of the collar similarly combines with the lighter streaks near the costa to produce a "wrap-around" effect for this paler area.  The antemedial and postmedial lines curve deeply outward in the upper half to two-thirds of the wing.  A heavy dark-brown-to-black dash or streak crosses the median and extends to the outer margin, passing through the outermost curve of the pm line.  The subterminal area has many fine streaks or lines The hindwing is white with brown shading toward the outer margin.  Covell indicates a wingspan of 3.0 to 3.2 cm for this species.

The larvae of Homohadena badistriga feed on honeysuckle, according to Handfield (1999).  Handfield indicates this species has a flight season in my general area from about mid-June to early August.

I have recorded this species in 2000 on 11 July; in 2001 on 20 July; in 2002 on 15 July; in 2004 on 27 July.