Moths of North Carolina
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Pangrapta Members:
869 NC Records

Pangrapta decoralis Hübner, 1818 - Decorated Owlet Moth

Pangrapta decoralisPangrapta decoralisPangrapta decoralisPangrapta decoralis
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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.
Pangrapta decoralis
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

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe 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:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: Larva on Sourwood
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-28
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment: