Ypsolopha flavistrigella (Busck)

Insufficient data for assessment of the conservation status. This species was recently discovered in Canada.

Adults fly from May to beginning of October. Specimens sometimes attracted to light.

A localized species occurring in southern U.S. It was recently discovered in Canada in Alberta in Olds, Mountain View county. In U.S. it is found in Texas (Greg Pohl, pers. comm.), California (Invermere Ridge (Powell 2004)), Utah and Colorado (Rocky Mountains National Park).

Head and antennae brown, labial palpi porrect, brown. Thorax dark brown to black, metathorax brown. Legs dark brown. Forewings are reminiscent of ethmiids. Dorsal surface of forewings in two tones, anterior half a mix of dark brown and black scales, while the posterior half is silvery grey with the basal part of the internal margin becoming dark grey. The two regions are separated apically by a curved, thick black line. Some specimens are of a uniform grey with very faint to no markings al all. Hindwings are grey, with apices becoming dark brown. Ventral wing surfaces, legs and abdomen dark grey to black. In Alberta this species can be confused with Ypsolopha senex, however the latter differs from Y. flavistrigella by having a specked brownish forewing with whitish oblique line present in discal area of the forewings.

A wide variety of habitats, wherever its host plant occurs.

Unknown. Adults are excellent dispersers, being capable of colonizing severely disturbed areas soon after the disturbance has occured (Powell 2004).

Willow leaves (Salix spp.) (Ives & Wong 1988).