Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

23 May 2003   11:21PM EST (top)
5 June 2003   1:27AM EST  (bottom left)
2 June 2003   12:34AM EST  (bottom right)

Cucullia intermedia is one of six species of Cucullia that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers.comm., 2001), and the only one commonly observed at my location.

Cucullia intermedia has the long narrow wings typical of its genus.  To the inexperienced eye, it could be confused with other streaky gray moths such as Lithophane fagina (9917); seen from above or from the side, however, it is readily apparent that head end is very "pointy" as opposed to squared-off, immediately helping to distinguish it as a Cucullia.  The forewing is medium to dark gray, thoroughly streaked with lighter gray; many of the veins of the wing are marked with very fine black lines.  Only vestiges of the antemedial and postmedial lines are evident.  The hindwing is grayish brown, darker near the outer margin.  Covell (1983) indicates a wingspan from 4.2 to 5.1 cm.

Handfield (1999) indicates the larvae of Cucullia intermedia feed on white birch and less commonly, on poplar, willow and other trees and shrubs.  Covell, however, names wild lettuce as the food for this species.  For my general area, Handfield notes two generations per year, with flight seasons from mid-May to early July, and from mid-July to early October.

I have recorded this species in 2001 on 27 July; in 2002, on 29 and 30 May, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 16 June, and 2 July; in 2003, on 19, 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27 May, on 1/2, 3, 4/5, 10, 11, 15 and 27 June, and on 26 July; in 2004, on 5, 13, 16, 17, 21 and 31 May, and on 2, 8, 11, 12, 13, 18 and 21 June.