Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Coelostathma Members:	140 NC Records

Coelostathma discopunctana Clemens, 1860 - The Batman Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Sparganothini

P3 Number:
51a0379

MONA Number:
3747.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Powell and Brown (2012)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Powell and Brown (2012)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Powell and Brown (2012). The head and palps vary from whitish to light tan and the antennae are brown. The forewing is falcate, and the ground color varies from whitish or light tan to a darker fawn color. The ground is overlain with darker strigulae that produce a faint reticulated pattern on fresh specimens. The males have a tan-brown to reddish-brown, diffuse, median fascia that begins on the costa just before the middle and slants gently to the middle of the inner margin. The fascia is usually sharply defined on the anterior margin by a thin dark-brown line, but becomes diffuse distally. A similar, parallel line is usually present at three-fourth that curves to the subtornal region and usually has darker, diffuse shading behind it. A small brown dot is centered between the two lines at around two-thirds the wing length. Females are more variable in forewing maculation, with the ground color tan to pale reddish brown and the darker marks often obscured. The males lack a costal fold and are most easily sexed by the presence of elongated antennal sensillae that are not present in females.

This species resembles both C. placidana and Sparganothoides lentiginosana. The former usually has a small, diffuse brown to blackish blotch near the middle of the dorsal margin of the forewing and frequently has faint brownish speck-like striae throughout the wing. It can be distinguished from S. lentiginosana by the absence of a costal fold in the male, the presence of a small, black, postmedian dot in the middle of the wing, and by having an outer margin that is slightly concave, which produces a falcate apex.

Forewing Length: 6.5–6.8 mm for males and 6.9–7.4 mm for females (Powell and Brown, 2012).

Adult Structural Features: Powell and Brown (2012) have illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia (also, see structural photos below).

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The females lay small groups of eggs and the larvae bind leaves together to form feeding shelters. Pupation occurs within the shelters. The later instars are pale grayish-green, with small, blackish pinacula that contrast with the ground color. The head is amber with a distinctive genal bar and a dark stemmatal patch (Powell and Brown, 2012).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Coelostathma discopunctana is found throughout most of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island). In the US the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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
Flight Comments: The adults are active nearly year-round in southern localities such as Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, except during the coldest winter months. Farther north, the flight season is primarily from April through October. Local populations appear to produce two or more broods per year (Powell and Brown, 2012). As of 2023, our records range from late March through late-October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species can be found in hardwood forests as well as more open habitats such as woodland borders and residential neighborhoods. Our records come primarily from residential neighborhoods. Records from natural habitats include bottomland forests that are often near aquatic sites, mesic hardwood forests, and a barrier island.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are poorly documented, but include several herbaceous species (Fernald, 1882; Forbes, 1923; Powell, 2006; Powell and Brown, 2012). The reported hosts include tick-trefoil (Desmodium), an orchid (Habernaria), Jewelweed (Impatiens), and cultivated strawberries. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is widespread within the state and locally abundant. It appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Coelostathma discopunctana - The Batman Moth

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-30 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-29 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson, Randy Emmitt on 2025-08-12 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson, Randy Emmitt on 2025-08-12 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-04-17 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-01 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-21 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-20 Jackson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-20 Jackson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-20 Jackson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-08 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2024-04-23 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-05 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-31 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-16 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-31 Madison Co. Comment: