Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

13 August 2003   12:36AM EST  (top left)
1 August 2004   11:12PM EST  (top right)
8 August 2005   10:30PM EST  (bottom left)
31 July 2005   10:52PM EST  (bottom right)

Feltia tricosa is one of three species of Feltia occurring in the Ottawa area; a fourth species, the very similar Feltia subgothica, was formerly recorded from Ottawa, but Feltia tricosa seems now to have extended its range and become the more prevalent species in our area (J. D. Lafontaine, pers. comm., 2001; Handfield, 1999).

The forewing of Feltia tricosa is dark brown to black, with light brown and gray streaks and markings.  A pale gray streak just below the costa runs from the base to approximately the upper end of the reniform spot, with a rounded triangle extension to mark the location of the orbicular spot.  This streak branches just below the base, and the lower part, usually more brown in color, runs outward to skim the lower end of the reniform spot and merge with a brownish streak extending the length of the inner margin from base to apex.  The lightly scalloped postmedial line is usually visible crossing this pale streak.  A somewhat jagged, pale subterminal line is preceded by variable amounts of brownish shading, with a dark patch at the costa just above the apex.  The reniform spot is prominently visible, with pale filling, surrounded by brown, which is in turn surrounded by a pale outline.  The hindwing is shaded with brownish gray.

When I first encountered this genus, I found it very confusing to differentiate the three species that occur at my location.  Now that I am more familiar with these moths, I look first for the clear double prong springing outward from the lower end of the reniform spot in Feltia jaculifera (Hodges 10670), for the pale merged streak extending along the inner margin right through the postmedial line to the anal angle in Feltia tricosa, and for an abrupt end to the prominent pale streak at the postmedial line in Feltia herilis (Hodges 10676).

According to Handfield (1999), the host plant for Feltia tricosa is unknown, but the larvae probably feed on the same very wide range of plants as those of Feltia subgothica, the species that has largely disappeared from the Ottawa area. Handfield postulates an adult flight season from about mid-July into early September for my general area.

My records to date for Feltia tricosa (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: