Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Pangrapta Members:	881 NC Records

Pangrapta decoralis Hübner, 1818 - Decorated Owlet Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Pangraptinae

P3 Number:
930559

MONA Number:
8490.00

Species Status: Currently only a single species is recognized but several distinct forms appear to represent cryptic siblings.

Identification

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

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

Wingspan: 20-25 mm (Forbes,1954)

Adult Structural Features: See examples of variation in genitalia below that may reflect members of a species complex.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: 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
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from virtually all heath-containing habitats in the state, ranging from pocosins to high elevation rocky summits.

Larval Host Plants: Oligophagous, larvae feed on a wide range of heaths, including Vaccinium, Gaylussacia, Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and Staggerbush (Lyonia mariana) (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, larvae have been reared from Sourwood. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Dry Heath Thickets

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:

Photo Gallery for Pangrapta decoralis - Decorated Owlet Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-13 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-13 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-20 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18 Buncombe 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 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-01 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-22 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-19 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-18 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-17 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment: