About Nola cucullatella (Linnaeus, 1758)
The short-cloaked moth, scientifically named Nola cucullatella, is a moth species belonging to the family Nolidae. It is distributed across most of Europe. In 2008, the species was collected on Westham Island in the greater Vancouver area of British Columbia. As Vancouver is a major shipping port, this area is considered the most probable source of the moth's introduction to the region. This is a small moth species, with a wingspan of 15 to 20 mm. Its forewings are grey or brown, with black basal areas that look like a short cloak when the moth is at rest. Its hindwings are a uniform cream or grey color. In the British Isles, the moth flies at night in June and July, and it is attracted to light. The flight season may be different in other parts of the species' range. The slightly hairy larva is reddish-brown, with white marks running along its back. It feeds on a variety of rosaceous plants, including apple, Cotoneaster, hawthorn, pear, Prunus, rowan, and whitebeam. The species overwinters in the form of a small larva.
