Moths of North Carolina
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70 NC Records

Platynota semiustana Walsingham, 1884 - Singed Platynota


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: SparganothiniP3 Number: 620435.00 MONA Number: 3741.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Powell and Brown (2012)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based primarily on the description by Powell and Brown (2012). Males and females differ somewhat in their coloration and patterning. In males the palps, head, and thorax have blackish scales. The forewing has dark smoky gray to black coloration on the basal three fourth and contrasting dull orangish to orangish-tan on the terminal fourth. The latter often has a series of blackish striae or raised lighter ridges. A dark tuft of scales is usually evident along the inner margin at around one third the length from the base to the tornus, and an anteriorly oblique, narrow ridge of raised scales extends from the inner margin at around one-half inward to near the middle of the wing. The band may be black or have varying amounts of pale tan scales. Additional blackish striations are often present in the basal three-fifths. All of these marks on the basal three-fourths may be largely obscured in very dark specimens. Females are generally similar but frequently have more red-brown scaling on the forewing and less contrast between the terminal fourth and the basal three-fourths of the wing. The labial palps also are conspicuously longer than the palps of the males. The males have a short costal fold that is less than half the wing length, and a complex hood-like structure on the head. The hindwings of both sexes are brown with a concolorous fringe.
Forewing Length: 5.5–7.0 mm for males and 6.0–8.0 mm for females (Powell and Brown, 2012)
Adult Structural Features: The costal fold in the male is moderate and does not extend past the middle of the wing. Powell and Brown (2012) provide illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The life history of the larvae was previously undocumented until Ken Kneidel reared an adult in 2023 from a larva that was feeding on American Pokeweed. The larva was in a large leaf roll and readily fed on pokeweed in captivity. The larval period lasted around 40 days in captivity. The larva was dull green with a dark amber-colored head and prothoracic shield and dorsolateral rows of pinacula along the body.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Platynota semiustana is found throughout most of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia). In the US the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults fly nearly year-round in Texas and Florida except for the coldest winter months. Elsewhere, the flight season primarily lasts from April through September. As of 2023, our records extend from late March through early September, with local populations appearing to be bivoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. Our records are from a diversity of habitats that include residential neighborhoods, floodplain forests, mesic woodlands, xeric sandhill pine forests and a barrier island.
Larval Host Plants: Reared from a larva on American Pokeweed by Ken Kneidel. Other than this record, there seem to be no documented hosts. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Platynota semiustana is widespread and locally common in North Carolina and appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Platynota semiustana - Singed Platynota

68 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-10-30
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: A reared adult that fed on Pokeweed (see companion photos of the webbed leaves, larva and pupa).		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-10-30
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-10-30
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: A larva that was feeding within webbed leaves of Pokeweed (see companion photos of the webbed leaves, pupa, and adult).		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-14
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-05-05
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-25
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-18
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2022-08-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-07-27
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25
Greene Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Becky Watkins, Richard Teper, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-15
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-01
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-31
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-06
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-05
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2021-08-27
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-08-07
Durham Co.
Comment: