Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Cisthene Members:	476 NC Records

Cisthene plumbea Stretch, 1885 - Lead-colored Lichen Moth

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, BOLD

Technical 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 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.

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