Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

4 May 2003   8:05PM EST  (top left)
18 May 2003   8:03PM EST  (top right)
27 May 2003   8:15PM EST  (bottom)

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. J. Donald Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada, who subsequently agreed with my identification for the actual specimen pictured at top left.

Depressaria pastinacella is one of four species of Depressaria known to occur in the Ottawa area, but fortunately appears to be fairly reliably distinguishable from the others on the basis of appearance alone.  Hodges notes that D. pastinacella tends to be large, with a wing length of 9.5 to 13 mm, that the forewing has pale yellow, yellow-brown and gray scaling, and that the hindwing is light gray.  In the specimens I have photographed there is some variation in darkness or lightness of color overall, as well as some variation in the specifics of lighter or darker areas on the forewing.  I note the pale thorax contrasting with the darker forewing, and the generally streaky appearance, with bands of streaks concentric and following the curve of the apical edge of the wing.  In the specimens I have seen, the forewing generally tends to be paler and plainer near the costa.

According to Hodges, the larvae feed on several umbelliferous plants, including common cow parsnip and garden parsnip, giving rise to a common name of Parsnip Webworm.  This species overwinters as an adult,

I have photographed this species in 2002 on 15 and 23 May; in 2003, on 4, 8, 9, 18 and 27 May.