DISTRIBUTION:

Anisota finlaysoni (wingspan: males: 29-36mm; females: 44-54mm) has a very limited distribution and probably flies only along the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario in southcentral Ontario (Toronto to Kingston), Canada. There might be populations in upstate New York along southeastern shore of Lake Ontario, but that has not been confirmed.

Anisota finlaysoni male, Ontario,
CBIF, on my home computer only.

Anisota finlaysoni female, Ontario,
CBIF, on my home computer only.

Distinguishing Anisota finlaysoni from Anisota senatoria can be very difficult, but Anisota finlaysoni specimens have a slightly browner ground colour while Anisota senatoria tend to be more orangey. It is my understanding that there are no consistent character differences in the genitalia of these two species.

Anisota senatoria is recorded in extreme southcentral Ontario along the northern shore of Lake Erie, and it does fly as far north as the southern shore of Lake Ontario further to the east, but its range does not overlap with the range of Anisota finlayson, which flies along the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

Anisota finlaysoni pair, Shannonville, Ontario, Canada,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Anisota finlaysoni adults are on the wing from mid-June to mid-July as a single generation. Finlaysoni larvae feed upon Castanea species, Quercus alba and Quercus prinus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Moths eclose in the morning and females begin calling around 10:00 am. The pair separate by evening, often much sooner, and the female begins her ovipositing flight in late afternoon or evening.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Yellow Eggs are deposited in clusters.

Larvae are gregarious in early instars and tend to remain that way as they progress. It is the dramatic reduction of the larval thoracic horns in final instar larvae that distinguish this species from senatoria. Pupation is under the soil.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Castanea sativa Castanea vulgaris Quercus alba Quercus muhlenbergii..... Quercus palustris Quercus prinus Quercus rubra

Spanish/Sweet chestnut American chestnut White oak Chinkapin oak Pin oak Chestnut oak Northern red oak

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