Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Cisthene Members: 476 NC Records

Cisthene plumbea Stretch, 1885 - Lead-colored Lichen Moth


Cisthene plumbeaCisthene plumbeaCisthene plumbeaCisthene plumbea
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Arctiinae
Tribe:
Lithosiini
P3 Number:
930184
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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, 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.
Cisthene plumbeaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
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 SNR [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

159 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-07
Brunswick Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-08
Madison Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02
Brunswick Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31
Brunswick Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-24
Moore Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-24
Moore Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23
Richmond Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21
Wilson Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-09
Wilson Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-09
Wilson Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-09-22
Davidson Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Chuck Smtih on 2024-09-19
Davidson Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04
Orange Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-03
Madison Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31
Orange Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26
Yancey Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26
Yancey Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17
Madison Co.
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Cisthene plumbeaRecorded by: David George on 2024-06-13
Durham Co.
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