Species Details

Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameFrigid Midget, Frigid Owlet, Willow Leaftier SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta in fall (August-September) and again in spring (April-May). IdentificationA small (2.2-2.5 cm wingspan) narrow-winged moth with dark-grey patterned forewings and shining dirty-white hindwings. The forewings are a mixture of dark slate grey markings over a pale grey ground. The forewing markings may be quite variable but the antemedian and postmedian lines are usually well marked, sinuous and doubled. The reniform is a gray spot with some rusty brown scaling in the pupil. The hindwing is dirty white, shading to light grey-brown towards the margin. The similar Nycteola cinereana can be separated from frigidana by its slightly larger size, pale grey color and the black scaling along the lower base of the forewings. Frigidana is most likely to be overlooked as a "micro-lepidopteran". There are also a number of similar appearing species among the Tortricidae.

Scientific Name Nycteola frigidana Common Name Frigid Midget, Frigid Owlet, Willow Leaftier Habitat Open deciduous woodland and shrub. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta in fall (August-September) and again in spring (April-May). Identification
A small (2.2-2.5 cm wingspan) narrow-winged moth with dark-grey patterned forewings and shining dirty-white hindwings. The forewings are a mixture of dark slate grey markings over a pale grey ground. The forewing…
A small (2.2-2.5 cm wingspan) narrow-winged moth with dark-grey patterned forewings and shining dirty-white hindwings. The forewings are a mixture of dark slate grey markings over a pale grey ground. The forewing markings may be quite variable but the antemedian and postmedian lines are usually well marked, sinuous and doubled. The reniform is a gray spot with some rusty brown scaling in the pupil. The hindwing is dirty white, shading to light grey-brown towards the margin. The similar Nycteola cinereana can be separated from frigidana by its slightly larger size, pale grey color and the black scaling along the lower base of the forewings. Frigidana is most likely to be overlooked as a "micro-lepidopteran". There are also a number of similar appearing species among the Tortricidae.
Life History
The adults are on the wing in late summer and fall and again in spring, and apparently overwinter. The larvae form colonies in leaves tied together in a silk web, although individuals may be found as well. The larvae…
The adults are on the wing in late summer and fall and again in spring, and apparently overwinter. The larvae form colonies in leaves tied together in a silk web, although individuals may be found as well. The larvae are pale green with long, fine hairs. The pupae are powdery white and characteristically truncated at one end. Adults are apparently only poorly attracted to light, and may be much commoner than light trap collections indicate.
Conservation A widespread and fairly common insect; no concerns. Diet Info The main larval host is willow (Salix sp.), although there are occasional reports of poplar (Populus sp.) as well. Range
Newfoundland west to Vancouver Island, north to Northwest Territories and south to the Gulf of Mexico. In Alberta it has been collected in the boreal forest north through the Peace River region to Zama, as well as…
Newfoundland west to Vancouver Island, north to Northwest Territories and south to the Gulf of Mexico. In Alberta it has been collected in the boreal forest north through the Peace River region to Zama, as well as throughout the Aspen parklands and foothills.

Citation

Page Citation for Nycteola frigidana

Page Citation

"Species Details - Nycteola frigidana, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4034. Accessed 08 Oct. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 41 specimens of this Species.

41 results plotted on map in 14 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM59057 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1949-05-10

UASM59058 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1923-04-26

BIRD20837 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2007-05-07

BIRD31687 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2009-05-16

BIRD31688 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2009-05-16

BIRD31689 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2009-08-22

UASM184776 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Eight Dollar Mountain Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Troubridge, L. Date Collected1996-04-05

UASM184777 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Williams Collected ByHammond, P. Date Collected1996-08-24

UASM184778 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Washington, Kittitas county, Vantage Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1998-04-22

UASM184779 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Hayes Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-04-21

UASM184780 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Quebec, Degelis Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1996-05-07

UASM184781 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Quebec, Degelis Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1996-05-09

UASM184782 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Quebec, Degelis Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1996-06-22

BIRD33808 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2010-05-15

BIRD33809 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2010-08-15

UASM213635 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2010-10-08/2010-10-09

UASM213636 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2010-10-08/2010-10-09

UASM213637 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2010-10-08/2010-10-09

UASM213638 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2010-10-08/2010-10-09

BIRD35985 - Nycteola frigidana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2012-08-04

Adult Seasonal Distribution