Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

2 August 2004   10:23PM EST  (top left)
2 August 2005   12:42AM EST  (top right)
3 August 2004   9:38PM  (bottom left)
7 August 2004   12:41AM  (bottom right)

Feltia herilis, also known as the Master's Dart, is one of three species of Feltia occurring in the Ottawa area; a fourth species, Feltia subgothica, was formerly recorded from Ottawa, but the very similar Feltia tricosa (Hodges 10675) 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 herilis is dark brown to black, with light brown, gray and beige streaks and markings.  A medium gray streak just below the costa runs from the base to approximately the upper end of the reniform spot, with a rounded triangle extension, sometimes finely rimmed with white, to mark the location of the orbicular spot.  Another streak, pale beige in color, runs outward from the same point at the base, to skim the lower end of the reniform spot and then stop abruptly at the postmedial line.  A third streak, medium gray to brown in color, runs the length of the inner margin, and the antemedial and postmedial lines are usually visible where they cross this streak.  The subterminal area is mainly dark brownish gray in color, with evidence of a somewhat jagged, pale subterminal line, and with a black patch at the costa near the apex just inside the subterminal line.  The reniform spot is prominently visible, with pale filling, surrounded by dark brown, which is in turn surrounded by a pale outline.  The hindwing is yellowish or grayish brown with darker gray-brown shading and a pale fringe.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan ranging from 3.4 to 4.4 cm for this species.

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 (Hodges 10675), and for an abrupt end to the prominent pale streak at the postmedial line in Feltia herilis.

According to Handfield (1999), the host plant for Feltia herilis is unknown, but Covell (1984) suggests the larva is a general feeder on the same range of plants as Feltia jaculifera (the Dingy Cutworm). Handfield indicates an adult flight season from the late June into the second half of September for my general area.

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