Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Lithophane Members:
9 NC Records

Lithophane petulca Grote, 1874 - Wanton Pinion

Lithophane petulca
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932536 MONA Number: 9889.00
Comments: One of 51 species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), 25 of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In the typical form, this species is fairly uniformly colored, with the ground color an even violet gray-brown with strong rufous and bright luteous shadings (Forbes, 1954). Both the reniform and orbicular are outlined by pale rings. The hindwings have a fringe that is shaded with rufous. In form ferrealis, the ground color is blackish and the costa is a contrasting whitish or luteous gray. Lithophane hemina is similar but has a deep brown ground color and more diffuse lines and reniform spot.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of L. hemina, patefacta, and other members of this species group; consequently, they are best identified by rearing them to adulthood (Wagner et al., 2011)
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from mesic forests in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on a number of hardwood trees and shrubs, including a number of species associated with riparian habitats, including Alder, Birch, Elm, Poplar, and Willow. Other hosts include Oak, Hickory, Cherry, and Blueberry (Wagner et al., 2011) - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Lithophane petulca - Wanton Pinion

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-10-21
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-03-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-03-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2012-10-23
Ashe Co.
Comment: