Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Lithophane laceyi (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913) - No Common Name

Lithophane laceyiLithophane laceyi
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932576 MONA Number: 9908.00
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: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Barnes and McDunnough (1913; original description)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A pale gray, moderately large Pinion. As detailed in Barnes and MacDunnough's original description of this spcies, a short, slender basal dash is present, above which a patch of whitish gray -- paler than the ground color -- extends to the costa. The antemedian line is fairly prominent, double, filled with gray, and dentate; a distinctive w-mark is located below the cell, beyond which extends a dagger-shaped claviform spot. The large, figure-8 shaped orbicular is filled with the same lighter gray shade as the patch at the base of the costa and is the most contrasting feature of the forewing. The reniform is also large, but is filled with the same shade as the ground color and is less contrasting; a lower lobe is usually present and filled with a darker gray or is outlined more heavily in black. The postmedian is generally inconspicuous but the subterminal line is dark and prominent, usually represented by a series of sharp wedges. Hindwings are grayish-brown. Barnes and MacDunnough noted that L. laceyi can be distinguished from other members of the Cinerosa (= grotei) Group -- which appears to correspond to Forbes' Lithophane Group III -- by its lighter ground color, sharper and more contrasting lines, and by its more dentate antemedian line.
Wingspan: 43 mm (Barnes and MacDunnough, 1913)
Adult Structural Features: Not described by Barnes and MacDunnough (1913) and we know of no recent descriptions of the genitalia or other structural features. However, according to D.F. Schweitzer and T. McCabe (NatureServe Explorer, 2016)), the tips of the valves can be used to diagnose this species.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae do not appear to have been described
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Our few records for this species come from the Coastal Plain and adjoining portions of the Piedmont
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
Flight Comments: Univoltine, with adults probably emerging in the fall and becoming active in the spring, when all of our records have been obtained
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come primarily from fairly dry sites dominated by xerophytic oaks, including Maritime Forest, Coastal Fringe Sandhills, and Pine/Scrub-Oak Sandhills. A site in Warren County where this species has been observed multiple times is located next to a large reservoir, but contains at least a remnant of somewhat dry oak-hickory forest.
Larval Host Plants: Observed feeding on cherry (Prunus sp.) in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Apparently comes fairly well to blacklights, but like most Pinions probably comes better to bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 SU
State Protection: Listed as Significantly Rare by the Natural Heritage Program. That designation, however, does not confer any legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Considered rare but poorly known over most of its range (NatureServe Explorer, 2016). We have very few records for this species, and too little information to determine whether it is a true habitat specialist. As with other winter moths, which have been generally poorly surveyed, more information is needed before its conservation status can be accurately determined.

 Photo Gallery for Lithophane laceyi - No common name

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-03-09
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-02-16
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-02-16
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-02-03
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2007-04-26
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2004-12-24
Carteret Co.
Comment: