Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

31 May 2004   11:21PM EST  (top)
31 May 2003   10:07PM EST  (center)
10 June 2005   10:13PM EST  (bottom)

Zale helata, sometimes called the Brown-Spotted Zale (Covell, 1984), is one of a dozen species of Zale that have been recorded from the Ottawa area (J.D. Lafontaine, pers. comm., 2001).  My thanks to Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine and Mr. James T. Troubridge of Agriculture Canada for confirming my identification several specimens, including those illustrated at top and bottom above.

The forewing of Zale helata is mainly a fairly dark brownish gray in color.  The basal area sometimes has a noticeable patch of brown in the lower half.  The black antemedial line is well defined, with a sharp outward point just below the costa, and an inward bend near the inner margin.  Fairly heavy dark speckling is most noticeable in the median.  The mainly black reniform spot is often followed by a brown shade, as may be observed in the top two photos.  The subterminal area may have dark intermittent striations, and also may have patches of white near the apex.  The most obvious marking on the hindwing is the black postmedial line.  Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan from 3.5 to 4.1 cm for this species.

To me, Zale helata has some similarity in appearance to Zale duplicata (Hodges 8703).  Covell (1984) notes similarity to Zale squamularis, a species that apparently does not occur in my area.  Care should be taken with identifications, therefore.

According to Handfield (1999), the larvae of Zale helata feed primarily on white pine, but also on other species of pine and tamarack. He indicates an adult flight season from late May to about mid-June for my general area.

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