White-spotted Hedya

Appearance

Adult - forewing medium brownish-gray to bronzy, crossed by three dark brown partial bands; large white semicircular patch along distal half of costa but not reaching apex; raised tuft of dark scales protrudes from top of thorax near base of wings; head and face color varies from brown to yellowish-orange.

Naming

Hedya chionosema (Zeller, 1875)
Penthina chionosema Zeller, 1875
Penthina ? chionosema Zeller, 1875

Specific epithet from Greek chion meaning "snow" for the "snow-white costal triangle [schneeweisser Costalfieck]" of the forewing.

Distribution

Quebec to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan and Ontario.

Food

In North America larvae feed on buds and leaves of apple (Malus), pear (Pyrus), hawthorn (Crataegus), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), and mountain ash (Sorbus).