About Ethmia monticola Walsingham, 1880
Ethmia monticola, commonly known as the gray ethmia moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Depressariidae. It is distributed in North America, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Arizona, and extending east at least as far as North Dakota and Colorado. The forewings of this moth measure between 10.8–15.3 mm (0.43–0.60 inches) in length. The base ground color of the forewings varies from pale to dark slate gray, marked with conspicuous, variable black patterning. The hindwings have a ground color ranging from pale to dark gray. Adult gray ethmia moths are active on the wing from May through July. Larvae of the subspecies Ethmia monticola fuscipedella feed on the plants Lithospermum canescens and Lithospermum gmelini, and live within a slight silk web.
