Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Palpita Members:	38 NC Records

Palpita aenescentalis Munroe, 1952 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a0988

MONA Number:
5227.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1952)

Adult Markings: The following description is mostly based on that of Munroe (1952). The labial palp is brown above and pale below, and about twice the length of the eye. The frons, vertex, thorax and abdomen are all brown, with white striping on the abdominal segments obsolete relative to our other Palpita species. The forewing is relatively long and narrow, and has an acute apex. The ground color is gray to dull white and is overlain with a broad streak of diffuse brown shading that extends down the middle of the wing from around one-third the wing length to the reniform spot, then curves around the spot and projects towards the apex. The dark brown reniform and orbicular spots are relatively large and often have a lighter, fuscous center. The costa is shaded with brown or fuscous, and the wing has fine black speckling throughout. The fringe is brown, with a darker, dashed, sub-basal line that parallels a dashed blackish terminal line. Most specimens have forewings that exhibit pronounced brassy reflections. The hindwing is translucent grayish white, with a faint discocellular line, and a variable amount of black speckling. The marginal line is black, and the fringe gray with a brown sub-basal line.

In addition to its maculation, this species is rather distinctive due to its long and narrow forewing that has an acute apex. The brassy reflections are also distinctive. The adults most commonly rest with the forewings covering the hindwings, which is generally not the case for our other Palpita species.

Forewing Length: 12-14 mm (Munroe, 1952).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Palpita aenescentalis is found in southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick) and the eastern U.S. from Maine westward to Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota, and southward to eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, western Tennessee, Alabama, northern Georgia, central South Carolina, and North Carolina. Populations appear to be largely absent from the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2023, all of our records are 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
Flight Comments: The adults mostly fly from March through August in different areas of the range, with a few records from the winter months in the southernmost areas of the range. As of 2023, our records range from late-February through early April.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species is commonly found in rich, mesic hardwood forests.

Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented, but may be ashes given these were the only members of the Oleaceae that were present at several of our collecting sites. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to both building lights and UV-lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is uncommon in North Carolina. More information is needed on its host plants and distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Palpita aenescentalis - None

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30 Madison Co. Comment: Male genitalia.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30 Madison Co. Comment: Specimen dissected (male).
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-29 Madison Co. Comment: Specimen dissected.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-04-21 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-04-21 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-04-20 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-10 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-08 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-07 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2024-04-01 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-03-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-20 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-14 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2024-03-07 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-16 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-06 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-01 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-28 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: chuck smith on 2023-02-22 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-03-31 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-03-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-03-21 Buncombe Co. Comment: