Moths of North Carolina
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Cisthene Members:
433 NC Records

Cisthene plumbea Stretch, 1885 - Lead-colored Lichen Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: LithosiiniP3 Number: 930184.00 MONA Number: 8067.00
Comments: One of twenty species in this genus that occur in North America, five of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Lead to dark gray with pinkish to yellowish shading on the head and along the inner and costal margins of the forewings; a large triangular patch of the same color projects up from the inner margin in the postmedian area of the forewing. This species is larger than our other species of Cisthene and its pattern is unique; it can be easily identified from a good quality photograph.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are illustrated in Wagner (2005) and appear to be greenish white with a broad mid-dorsal white band.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide
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: Appears to be bivoltine, with strong spring-summer flight and another one in the fall
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Recorded in virtually all types of forested habitats in the state; does not show any clear association with hardwoods versus conifers, wet or mesic versus dry habitats
Larval Host Plants: Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and Cyanobacteria (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights but none of our records come from bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Widespread, abundant, and occupying an extremely broad range of habitats, this species is secure within the state

 Photo Gallery for Cisthene plumbea - Lead-colored Lichen Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2023-09-25
Caswell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-06-02
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-19
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-17
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-05-12
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2023-05-11
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-05-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-27
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-09-21
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-09-19
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-01
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-08-21
Madison Co.
Comment: