University of Alberta Museums Search

A very small (1.3-2.4 cm wingspan) flimsy dull yellow-brown moth with darker grey-brown markings. The darker antemedian and postmedian bands are discernable across both the fore and hind wings, and there is usually a prominent dark discal dot. The terminal areas of the wings are darker than the ground, and the forewing fringe is checkered dark and lighter brown. There are also small patches of white scales in the subterminal area, midway and again just above the tornus. Abdominal segment 2 is covered with blackish scales, which will separate columbiata from other members of the palpata species group except for maestosa. Maestosa usually lacks the white spot on the forewing above the tornus. Positive identification of columbiata, and indeed many species of Eupithecia, is best obtained by examining the genitalia. Both male and female genitalia have excellent characters that will readily identify the species.

No Alberta data. Elsewhere a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, including willow (Salix), wild cherry (Prunus), Alder (Alnus), dogwood (Cornus), Philadelphus sp., Ceoanothus, Poplar (Populus), buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana), Saskatoon (Amelanchier), Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), and maple (Acer). Willow is apparently the preferred host (Bolte, 1990).

Eastern NFLD to Vancouver Island; south to North Carolina in the east and Colorado in the west. In Alberta it has been found across the southern boreal forest region south to the South Saskatchewan River near the Saskatchewan border.