Moths of North Carolina
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22 NC Records

Palpita illibalis (Hübner, 1818) - Inkblot Palpita Moth

Palpita illibalisPalpita illibalisPalpita illibalisPalpita illibalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 80a0984 MONA Number: 5223.00
Comments: This is one of twelve species in this genus that have been recorded in North America north of Mexico (Scholtens and Solis, 2015). Munroe (1952) placed P. magniferalis in his 'Illibalis Species Group', which in North Carolina includes P. arsaltealis, P. magniferalis, P. freemanalis, and P. aenescentalis.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1952)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Tyler (2020)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a small white and brown mottled pyraustine. The ground color of both the forewings and hindwings is typically white, and often translucent, although some individuals have a light brownish shading. The orbicular and reniform spots on the forewing are dark and solid, with the wings also speckled with dark brown. Speckling along the costa can be almost solid, but is otherwise light and concentrated in the distal half (Munroe, 1952). The hindwings are also lightly speckled and possess a distinct dico-cellular spot. The legs are white, with dorsal and distal fuscous bands on the fore tibiae. The palps are fuscous above and pale below. Schotens (2017) notes that "there is plenty of possibility for confusion in these species. There are general trends in each, but a great deal of variation."
Forewing Length: 12-13 mm (Munroe, 1952)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larvae are often common on Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) where they can cause minor issues with defoliation (J. Petranka, pers. obs.). The hatchlings often feed directly of the upper surfaces of leaves beneath a loosely webbed sheet of silk. As they age, each larva loosely folds the upper surface of a leaf and binds it with a loose silk web. It then feeds within the shelter on the leaf surface and mesophyll, but leaves the lower epidermis intact. The larvae may also bind two leaves together to form a feeding shelter (Tyler, 2020). Abundant blackish frass pellets are common inside the shelters. The leaves tend to curl and brown with age, and eventually fall off of the branches. Larvae that Jim Petranka held in captivity evacuated the leaves at maturity and pupated on artificial substrates beneath a thin webbing of silk. However, Tyler (2020) reported that pupation in a Louisiana population occurred within the leaf shelters.

The earliest instars are translucent green with an amber-colored head. The late instars are similar, but have two rows of black pinacula along each side. The dorsal row has crescent-shaped pinacula, with the lateral row much less so. The head is light amber-colored with an inconspicuous black streak on the lower side, while the thoracic segments approximate the body segments in terms of coloration and markings.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The range is centered on the southeastern U.S. and extends from Pennsylvania and Ohio southward to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, western Tennessee and Kentucky. As of 2023, our records are all from the Piedmont and lower elevations 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
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 typically fly from March through September in different areas of the range, but also can be active during the coldest winter months in southern locales such as Florida and Louisiana. As of 2023, our records extend from late-April through mid-August. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species appears to specialize on the Fringe Tree, which occurs in mesic to drier forests, particularly where there are forest edges and gapes. In drier woods it is often found along the bases of rock outcrops or on large rock ledges.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae have only been found on Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) in North Carolina and elsewhere (iNaturalist; Tyler, 2020). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights, and the damage to leaves is often readily evident on the host plant.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Ash Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W3]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is associated with the Fringe Tree in North Carolina, which is the only known host. Since that species is considered to be at high risk due the attacks of the Emerald Ash Borer, Palpita illibalis is likely to be highly endangered.

 Photo Gallery for Palpita illibalis - Inkblot Palpita Moth

Photos: 25

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-17
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-07-31
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-04
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-06
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-09-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-08-15
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-07-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-31
Madison Co.
Comment: Caterpillar feeding beneath webbing on a Fringetree leaf.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-31
Madison Co.
Comment: Caterpillar on Fringetree. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-31
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-31
Madison Co.
Comment: Adult that eclosed on 2019-06-28 from a caterpillar that was collected on 2019-05-31 (see companion photographs of caterpillar and pupa).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-31
Madison Co.
Comment: Pupa beneath webbing.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-19
Madison Co.
Comment: Determined by J.B. Sullivan based on dissection.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-04-27
Guilford Co.
Comment: