Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

15 July 2002   12:24AM EST  (top)*
17 July 2002   12:41AM EST  (bottom left)
22 July 2002   1:47AM EST  (bottom right)

Heterocampa obliqua is one of several species of Heterocampa that may occur in my general area, some of which are quite similar to each other.  Fortunately, Heterocampa obliqua is readily distinguished from the others by the white patch near the apex and the rounder, more beige spot in the subterminal area midway along the outer margin.

This species is sexually dimorphic, and Covell (1984) indicates that the female has a pinkish brown apical patch, and grayish brown hindwings.  Covell (1984) and Handfield (1999) illustrate both sexes, but all the specimens I have photographed appear to be male.

The forewing is generally gray to gray-brown, with clearly marked, double, broadly scalloped antemedial and postmedial lines crossing the wing.  The reniform spot is marked by a dark crescent, still visible even in the worn specimen shown in the bottom right photo above.  The hindwing is whitish.

The larvae of Heterocampa obliqua feed on oak species.

Although Handfield (1999) indicates a flight period of about mid-June to mid-July for my general area, I have photographed this species in 2002, on 1, 4, 15, 17, 21, 22 and 31 July.

*The small moth in this photo is Limnaecia phragmitella (1515).