Moths of North Carolina
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5 NC Records

Palpita arsaltealis (Walker, 1859) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801321.00 MONA Number: 5222.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1952)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Munroe (1952) described Palpita arsaltealis but did not provide a detailed description of its external morphology and markings. Instead, he noted that it was similar to P. cincinnatalis, except for being larger and having a shorter central process on the male valve. The description of P. cincinnatalis was based on only two specimens from what appears to be the same site in southern Ohio, so it is uncertain to what extent it captured sexual, seasonal and interpopulational variation within P. cincinnatalis. Munroe (1952) noted that both species differ from the other gray forms of the genus in having the ground color of the hindwings as dark as that of the forewings. A redescription of this species is clearly needed using specimens that are identified using genitalia and molecular markers. Our identifications here are tentative since we have not verified identifications using genitalia or barcoding. They are based on specimens presented on MPG, BugGuide and BOLD.

In this species, the ground color of the forewing varies from light brown to grayish-brown and is heavily speckled with diffuse dusky-brown spotting. The orbicular and reniform spots are dark brown with irregular, diffuse margins. The latter is often fused with or masked by a larger concolorous blotch that fills the middle of the wing, but rarely extends all the way to the inner margin. The ground color of the hindwing tends to be the same color as that of the forewing, but is often more thinly scaled (Munroe, 1952). It has diffuse dusky-brown spotting that resembles that of the forewing, but the basal third of the wing is generally less speckled than the outer two-thirds. The hindwing lacks large blotches, but does have a small discocellular line. The forewing and hindwing both have a narrow, dark-brown marginal line. The fringe is darker near the base and often appears weakly checkered.

This species is perhaps most easily confused with P. magniferalis, but the later typically has much more heavy dark blotching on the forewing, with the middle blotch often extending across the entire width of the wing. The basal blotching is also much more prominent. The ground color varies from light-brown to brownish-white, with the whitish mottling often contrasting more sharply with the surrounding brownish scales. The winter form of P. freemanalis is also similar, but is smaller (forewing ca. 9-10 mm versus 12 mm). Forewing length is helpful for identifying brownish specimens that are collected from February through early May.
Forewing Length: 12 mm (Munroe, 1952).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1952) has illustrations of the female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Host plants are apparently unknown.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Palpita arsaltealis - No common name

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-20
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-03-26
Wake Co.
Comment: