Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Clemensia Members: 22 NC Records

Clemensia ochreata Schmidt & Sullivan, 2018 - Little Ochre Lichen Moth

Clemensia ochreataClemensia ochreataClemensia ochreata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Arctiinae		Tribe:
Lithosiini		P3 Number:
930216		 MONA Number:
8098.10
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010). All three are found in North Carolina.
Species Status: All three North American species have been bar-coded and are distinct (Schmidt and Sullivan, 2018)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Schmidt and Sullivan (2018)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Clemensia ochreata is slightly similar in pattern but is slightly smaller than C. albata (Schmidt and Sullivan, 2018). The ground color is also more ochraceous than in albata, which is usually a purer white; the scales along the antemdian and postmedian are particularly bright orange. The forewings in ochreata often appear dingier than in albata but the pattern of lines and spots may be more contrasting. The dark spots on the costa are darker and a medial dark patch on the base of the antemedian is particularly pronounced.
Forewing Length: 9.83 mm, average (Schmidt and Sullivan, 2018)
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Clemensia ochreataAlamance 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.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come almost entirely from wet hardwood forests in the Coastal Plain.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae probably feed on lichens or algae on tree bark, like other members of the genus. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Coastal Plain Wet Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [P-PK]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S2S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species was recently described and its overall distribution and abundance still needs to be determined, both within the state and over its entire range

 Photo Gallery for Clemensia ochreata - Little Ochre Lichen Moth

Photos: 11
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-05
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-21
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-03-11
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-23
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-16
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-09
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-02-12
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Clemensia ochreataRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-11-27
Onslow Co.
Comment: