Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

13 July 2004   12:44AM EST  (top)
13 July 2004  (bottom left and right)
All photos are of the same specimen.

Cucullia florea is one of six species of Cucullia that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers.comm., 2001).  My thanks to James T. Troubridge of Agriculture Canada for his help with the identification of this specimen, which was collected and given to the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.

Cucullia florea has the long narrow wings typical of its genus.  The forewing is medium to dark gray, somewhat streaked with lighter gray, paler in the subterminal area and with slight pinkish brown overtones.  The orbicular and reniform spots are very indistinct, and for the most part, the antemedial and postmedial lines are not evident at all.  There is a dark streak along the inner margin.  At the inner margin, it appears that the end of the postmedial line is indicated by a double black chevron, after which a black dash extends to the terminal line.  The hindwing is grayish brown, darker near the outer margin.

Cucullia florea is similar in appearance to Cucullia postera (10198), but generally has less distinct markings and much less brown in its coloring.

The larvae of Cucullia florea feed on the flowers of some species of aster, goldenrod and fleabane (Handfield, 1999).  Handfield notes a flight season from mid-June to early August for my general area.

I have recorded this species only once at my location, in 2004 on 12/13 July.