Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

7 July 2003   (date of moth capture)  (top left and right)
7 July 2003   9:02PM EST  (bottom)
All three photos are of the same specimen.

My initial identification of Metrea ostreonalis was based on Munroe, E., The Moths of North America North of Mexico, Fascicle 13.1, Pyraloidea Pyralidae (Part) (London: E.W. Classey, 1972-1974) and specimens in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa.

Metrea ostreonalis has a white forewing with dark gray markings.  The postmedial line is evident as a smoothly curved row of dark gray spots.  In the median, there is one large dark gray spot close to the costa, and two or three large dark gray spots fused together and touching the inner margin.  Outside the postmedial line, there is a light gray shade in the subterminal area in the lower 2/3 of the wing.  The hindwing is white.

According to Munroe (1972), the larvae of Metrea ostreonalis live in webs of leaves on black or glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). He notes that the adults fly in July.

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