Moths of North Carolina
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Lipocosma Members:
14 NC Records

Lipocosma sicalis (Walker, 1859) - Brown-banded Lipocosma

Lipocosma sicalisLipocosma sicalisLipocosma sicalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeTribe: [Glaphyriini]P3 Number: 80a1207 MONA Number: 4881.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on those by Forbes (1923) and Munroe (1972). The forewing ground is creamy white but heavily shaded with yellowish, light brown or clay colors on most of the outer half and portions of the basal third. The whitish ground is generally most expressed along the outer margin and the basal third. The medial area is largely medium brown or clay colored, but is suffused with varying degrees of darker fuscous or blackish scales. The antemedial and postmedial lines are fine and dark. The antemedial is wavy, and the postmedial is somewhat jagged on the inner half and broadly outwardly angled on the costal half. A weak double discocellular bar or diffuse spot is present near the middle of the wing between the lines. The hindwing is generally similar to the forewing, but the median area is dusted with black, and there is a distinct, black, postmedial line.

Lipocosma sicalis is generally similar to our other two Lipocosma species and is the largest of the three. It is most easily distinguished from L. adelalis by the absence of a clear, distinct, black discocellular spot on the forewing and tufts of raised black scales on the hindwing. Lipocosma septa sometimes has a black spot -- although it is rarely as well developed -- and is best distinguished by the presence of a large, inwardly oblique patch of reddish-brown scales before the antemedial line near the middle.
Wingspan: 18 mm (Forbes, 1923).
Forewing Length: 7-9 mm (Munroe, 1972).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Lipocosma sicalis is broadly distributed across much of the eastern U.S. and adjoining areas of southern Ontario and Quebec. In the U.S., the range extends from New Hampshire and Massachusetts southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and central Nebraska. As of 2023, our records are all from the northern half of the state and from all three physiographic provinces.
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 from April through November in different areas of the range, with the great majority from May through August. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-May through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. We have records from wetlands, but also from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The plant hosts, if any, are undocumented. The discovery that Lipocosma adelalis feeds on lichens (Kearfott, 1903) suggests that our other Lipocosma species might do the same. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Lipocosma sicalis - Brown-banded Lipocosma

Photos: 10

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-07-24
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-15
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2015-05-19
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Amos on 2015-05-12
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2011-08-04
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-07-31
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2011-06-28
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2011-05-27
Camden Co.
Comment: