Hoary Pinion

Appearance

"Lithophane fagina Morr. This species differs by the obsolescence of its markings, which gives the primaries a somewhat narrower appearance, and recalls those of Cucullia. A white shade, more purely white and more extended than in any other species of the genus, extends along costa to apical third. The customary markings are lost or barely indicated by hair streaks of black scales. The veins are marked finely in black. The series of cuneiform marks forming the subterminal line can be faintly made out on the shining gray concolorous wings; the stigmata are lost; hind wings pale smoky gray with whitish fringes, reflecting the irregular smoky mesial band and thick discal mark from the under surface, which is paler than above. On the darker fore wings beneath the spot and band are more faintly repeated. Head and thorax concolorous dark smoky gray, paler beneath; abdomen like secondaries. Not rare. Canada to Middle States. Larva unknown. Hibernated specimens are found in April and May; the fresh examples may be taken in October." (Notes on Species of Lepidoptera, C. Two Gray Species of Lithophane. A. R. Grote and A. M. Bremen. The Canadian Entomologist, Vol. 19, No. 3, March 1887, pages 54 and 55.)

Naming

Lithophane fagina Morrison, 1874

Distribution

Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Behavior

Adults fly from late March to early June and again from September through October. One generation per year; overwinters as an adult.

Habitat

Deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait

Reproduction

One generation per year; overwinters as an adult.

Food

Larvae feed mainly on leaves of Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera); occasionally on Gray Birch (B. populifolia) and Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica).