Moths of North Carolina

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Crambidia pallida Packard, 1864 - Pale Lichen Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Lithosiini

P3 Number:
930219

MONA Number:
8045.10

Comments: One of eleven named species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), of which six have been recorded in North Carolina (several others are still undescribed). Two undescribed species that appear to be in the same species complex with C. pallida were mentioned by Forbes (1960) and may be present in North Carolina; other undescribed species may also be present.

Species Status: Crambidia pallida has long been regarded as a complex of several species.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Generally small and pale grayish brown with lighter veins. Both sexes are similar and possess simple antennae, differing from C. lithosiodes in both respects. Certain populations are somewhat darker and/or smaller and may represent undescribed species; which one is the true C. pallida is unclear.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Descriptions of the larvae are apparently unavailable.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: The complex occurs statewide; the distribution of the individual species is unclear

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: Unclear until the species can be distinguished.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The majority of our records for this complex come from the Coastal Plain, where it occupies a wide range of habitats, including maritime forests, floodplain hardwoods, peatlands, and wet-to-dry Longleaf Pine Communities. Records from the Piedmont and Mountains come from both lowland and upland stands of hardwood forests. Until the members of this complex can be reliably separated, the degree of habitat restriction within this group cannot be determined.

Larval Host Plants: Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and Cyanobacteria (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). - View

Observation Methods: Comes commonly to abundantly to blacklight traps. It is rarely, if ever, attracted to bait.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: While this complex as a whole appears to be widespread and secure within the state, determination of the conservation status of individual species cannot be determined until the taxonomy of this group is resolved.

Photo Gallery for Crambidia pallida - Pale Lichen Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-05 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-24 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock on 2025-08-25 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin. on 2025-08-17 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-17 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-06-26 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-13 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-12 Pamlico Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-05 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-07 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-21 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-06-13 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-06-12 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-16 Madison Co. Comment: