Moths of North Carolina

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Patania silicalis (Guenée, 1854) - Herbivorous Patania

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a0935

MONA Number:
5243.00

MONA Synonym:
Pleuroptya silicalis

Other Common Name:
Herbivorous Pleuroptya

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: In this species the head, thorax, abdomen and ground color of the wings are all concolorous and vary from brown to brownish-yellow. The markings on the forewing are dark brown and somewhat diffuse, and include a slightly irregular antemedial line and a crescent-shaped or curved reniform. The postmedial has a curved portion that projects from the costa and meets the remainder of the line that has a stepped pattern, with a toothed portion that runs parallel to the termen, a connecting line that runs parallel to the inner margin, and a final portion that runs parallel to the termen to the inner margin near the middle of the wing. The hindwing is similar, but lacks the antemedial line and reniform spot. The fringe on both wings is concolorous with the adjoining ground on the wings and abuts a very narrow dark marginal line.

Patania silicalis shares many similarities with Herpetogramma theseusalis and H. centrostrigalis, but the latter two species have a dark orbicular spot just posterior to the antemedial line (often faded on worn specimens) that is missing on P. silicalis. The postmedial line between the costa and the stepped portion of the line that begins at M2 is curved inward in P. silicalis versus more or less straight in H. theseusalis. The dark shading along the lines, particularly in the median area, also may help to distinguish P. silicalis. Finally, the reniform tends to be crescent-shaped in P. silicalis versus more oblong in certain Herpetogramma species.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf rollers that roll the leaves of the host plants lengthwise and consume portions of the entire leaf. False Nettle appears to be the most widely used host in the eastern U.S. The leaf rolls typically have substantial amounts of blackish frass, and pupation occurs within the leaf roll. The older instars have a light, translucent bluish-green body and a dull yellow head with finely mottled black pigmentation along the sides and back. The prothoracic shield may or may not have similar dark pigmentation along the sides depending on the stage.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Patania silicalis is found from Brazil northward through Central America and the West Indies to eastern North America. In eastern North America, it has been observed from Maine westward through Ontario, Quebec and the Great Lakes region, to Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. The range extends as far south as south-central Texas, the Gulf Coast states, southern Florida and Georgia. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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 fly from April through December in Florida and mostly from June through November farther north. As of 2023, our records range from mid-July through mid-November. Populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are often found in wet to mesic habitats such as bottomland forests, swamplands and wet thickets, as well as mesic habitats in the mountains. The adults are good dispersers and often appear at lights in residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous, with the primary hosts appearing to be members on the Convolvulaceae and Urticaceae. The former are often used in subtropical and tropical regions of the range. Bendicho-Lopez (1998) collected and reared adults in Cuba on Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas), l. setifera, Hogvine (Camonea umbellata) and Pigeonberry (Rivinia humilis; Phytolacaceae), and noted that it has been found by others on Great Bougainvillea (Bouganvillea spectabilis; Nyctaginaceae) and Ramie (Boehmeria nicea; Urticaceae). Dutra et al. (2006) found larvae feeding on a tropical shrub in Brazil (Urera baccifera; Urticaceae) after ants that defended the plant were removed. As of 2023, we have rearing records for North Carolina for False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica; Urticaceae), Swamp Fetterbush (Eubotrys racemosus; Ericaceae), and Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus; Saururaceae), with False Nettle appearing to be the most commonly used host. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in rolled leaves of False Nettle and other hosts.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: Populations in North Carolina appear to be relatively secure, although the historical loss of wetlands in North Carolina has undoubtedly adversely affected this species.

Photo Gallery for Patania silicalis - Herbivorous Patania

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

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-09-24 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-07 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-24 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-16 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-13 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-07 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Madison Co. Comment: Unoccupied leaf rolls were on Boehmeria cylindrica.		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-15 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-08-31 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-22 Madison Co. Comment: An adult that was reared from a leaf roll on Boehmeria cylindrica.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: Leaf rolls of Boehmeria cylindrica had both larvae and a pupa; adult reared from pupa (see companion photo of the adult from 2024-08-22).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: Leaf rolls of Boehmeria cylindrica had both larvae and a pupa; adult reared from pupa (see companion photo of the adult from 2024-08-22).
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-18 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-17 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2023-10-21 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-10-16 Durham Co. Comment: larvae were common in leaf rolls on False Nettle.
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-10-15 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-10-15 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-10-06 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-03 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-28 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: A False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) with several leaf rolls.