Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

9 May 2003   9:07PM EST  (left)
5 May 2003   8:21PM EST  (right)

My identification of this moth was initially based on Hodges, R.W., The Moths of North America North of Mexico, Fascicle 6.2, Gelechioidea Oecophoridae (London: E.W. Classey, 1974).  My thanks to Dr. Jean-François Landry of Agriculture Canada, who subsequently agreed with this identification for two specimens I collected for the Canadian National Collection.

Semioscopis inornata is unquestionably the plainest of the five species of Semioscopis known to occur in the Ottawa area.  Hodges notes that it can be separated from the other species by the slightly blue-gray cast of the forewing, and the eight specimens I have photographed at my location have all exhibited this coloration, although it has not always been evident in my photographs, depending on the lighting conditions.  In addition, Hodges notes the presence of a pair of black dots at half the length of the cell in many specimens, a feature that is marginally evident in both the photos above.  He also notes that some specimens exhibit a very faint curved line at the end of the cell, but this has been absent from most of the specimens I have photographed.  The wing length of this species ranges from 10.5 to 15 mm.

Hodges indicates that larvae of S. inornata have been reared on several species of poplar and willow.  The adult moth flies in the spring.

I have photographed this species in 2002, on 6 May; in 2003, on 21 April and on 4, 5 and 9 May.