Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members:
Coelostathma Members:
7 NC Records

Coelostathma placidana Powell & Brown, 2012 - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: SparganothiniP3 Number: 620380.00 MONA Number: 3747.10
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Powell and Brown (2012)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based primarily from the original description by Powell and Brown (2012). In this species the vertex and palps are white to pale yellow and the antennae light brown. The forewing apex is falcate, and the thorax and forewing ground vary from pale beige to whitish. The forewing ground is overlain with fine striae that resemble fine brownish to brownish-black specks. The most conspicuous mark is a small (and often ill-defined) dark brown to blackish blotch that is present between the discal cell and inner margin about three-fifths the distance from the base to the apex. Many specimens have two small dark brown to blackish dots, with one in the subcostal region at around one-third, and the second immediately behind and inward from the blackish blotch at around three-fifths. The fringe is concolorous with the ground and often has a blackish basal line, while the hindwing is white. The males lack a costal fold and are most easily sexed by the presence of elongated antennal sensillae that are not present in females.

This species resembles both C. discopunctana and Sparganothoides lentiginosana. It is best distinguished from poorly marked C. discopunctana by the small, diffuse brown to blackish blotch that is just beyond the middle of the dorsal margin of the forewing and the faint brownish speckling throughout the wing. It can be distinguished from S. lentiginosana by the absence of a costal fold in the male, the small, blackish blotch at three-fifths, and the falcate apex. Sparganothoides lentiginosana has a costal fold, has a much larger and diffuse blotch at three-fifths, and lacks a falcate wing tip.
Wingspan: 13-14 mm (MPG)
Forewing Length: 5.7–6.5 mm for males and 5.5–6.5 mm for females (Powell and Brown, 2012).
Adult Structural Features: Powell and Brown (2012) have illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia (also see structural photos below).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Coelostathma placidana is found in the southeastern US from coastal Virginia southward to southern Florida, and westward through the Gulf Coast states to Louisiana, southeastern Texas and western Tennessee. As of 2023, most of our records are from coastal habitats, with one site record from Ashe County in the Blue Ridge.
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)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed during every month of the year in different areas of the range, with most populations appearing to produce two or three broods per year (Powell and Brown, 2012). As of 2023, our records extend from late March through early September, with Coastal Plain populations appearing to have two or three generations per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitat are poorly documented but appear to include both both mesic hardwood forests and pine forests. Powell and Brown (2012) surmised that the larvae are polyphagous and feed mostly on herbaceous vegetation, but the hosts have yet to be discovered. Our limited records include a rich, mesic forest in the mountains and a pine savanna in the Coastal Plain.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon within the state, but more information is needed on its preferred habitats, host use, distribution and abundance before we can assess it conservation status.