Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

9 June 2005   11:06PM EST  (top left)
10 June 2003   7:27PM EST  (top right)
14 July 2003   8:23PM EST  (center left)
22 July 2004   9:22PM EST  (center right)
18 June 2004   10:17PM EST  (bottom left)
10 June 2003   9:52PM EST  (bottom right)
The photos at top right and bottom right are of the same specimen.

Harrisimemna trisignata, also known as Harris's Three-Spot, is readily identifiable on the basis of its distinctive appearance.  The forewing is white, speckled with black scales to varying degrees.  The scalloped basal, antemedial and postmedial lines are black and double, with white filling.  Between the basal and antemedial lines, there is a prominent round reddish-brown spot, rimmed in white.  Two more round brown spots occur outside the postmedial line -- one at the apex, and another about 2/3 of the way down the wing.  In the median, the white orbicular spot is outlined in black, with a black dot or spot in the center.  The reniform spot is also white, outlined in black, with some black in the center.  Some specimens, as in the photo at center right, also have another scalloped black line crossing the median, approximately parallel to the pm line, but interrupted by the reniform spot.  Also, in a few specimens, the apical spot is only minimally rimmed with white, as in the specimen pictured at top right and bottom right.  The hindwing is white with a dark terminal line in the male and gray in the female, according to Covell (1984), who indicates a wingspan from 3.0 to 3.6 cm for this species.  This moth often rests with its wings ajar, so that a series of brown tufts can be seen on the dorsal abdomen.  The largest tuft is about halfway down the abdomen, followed by three smaller tufts.  The abdomen is heavily speckled with black on the dorsal side. The thorax is reddish brown, with a streak of white scales accenting each side in the dorsal view.

According to Handfield (1999), the larvae of Harrisimemna trisignata have been reported to feed on a variety of trees and shrubs, including viburnum, lilac, ash, willow, winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and blueberry. He indicates an adult flight season from the end of May to the beginning of August for my general area.

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