Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

25 July 2003   8:30PM EST (left)
30 July 2003   9:25PM EST  (right)

My identification of this species was initially based on comparison of my photos with specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa, to which access was kindly arranged by Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada.  My thanks to Dr. P.T. Dang of the Canadian Forest Service for confirming the identification for the actual specimen illustrated at left above.

Proteoteras moffatiana is one of four species of Proteoteras known to occur in Ottawa.  When fresh, it is immediately distinguishable from most other members of the Tortricidae family by its green forewings; older specimens do not always retain as clear a green color, as is evidenced by the specimen at right above, and many of the collected specimens I have seen have faded to a faintly greenish gray.  Blackish streaks or smudges extend from the base of the forewing to a raised "bump" of scales at about a third of its length.  An irregular blackish line extends in a semicircle beginning at approximately the mid-point of the costa and ending near the apex.  Short stripes of green, dark gray to black and near-white occur along the costal edge in a pattern characteristic of many species of Tortricidae.  The wing length is in the order of 8 mm.  There is a pale green raised bump of scales at the back end of the thorax.

According to various Internet sources, the larvae of Proteoteras moffatiana are bud miners on sugar maple. 

I have photographed this species in 2001, on 10, 20 and 21 July; in 2003, on 20, 25, 26 and 30 July.