Moths of North Carolina
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Perispasta Members:
44 NC Records

Perispasta caeculalis Zeller, 1875 - Titian Peale's Pyralid Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801425.00 MONA Number: 4951.00
Comments: Perispasta is a monotypic genus with its one recognized species occurring in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a distinctive small moth that is dark brown with a very wide forewing, a strongly arched costa and a falcate apex. The antemedial and postmedial lines on the forewing are narrow and blackish, and contrast sharply with the ground color. The males have a large, contrastingly pale or whitish fovea (dash) on the forewing that is missing in females. The outer margin is dark brown or dark gray with a conspicuous white patch near the middle. The hindwing is the same color as the forewing and has a faint, dark postmedial line. The fringe is similar to that of the forewing, but has a much longer region of whitish scales along the outer margin. Individuals typically rest with the forewing partially spread to produce a very recognizable shape.
Wingspan: 13-19 mm (BugGuide)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the genitalia of both species, along with an illustration of the male genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The only rearing record that we are aware of is that of George Smiley (BugGuide) who reared an adult from a larva that was feeding on Coral Honeysuckle. The penultimate instar had an elongated and narrow body that was greenish-white with narrow dorsolateral lines that were reddish on the proximal and distal portions of the body. The head was pale. The final instar (17 mm) was similar but with the dorsolateral lines broader and red along the entire length of the body. Pupation occurred on the host plant between two bound leaves, and the adult emerged after two weeks. Tom Murray (BugGuide) also found a larva on a honeysuckle sp., with the dorsum of the final instar becoming entirely red just prior to pupating.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Perispasta caeculalis is widely distributed across all of southern Canada, the eastern and central U.S., the central and northern Rockies (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana), California and the Pacific Northwest. The range in the eastern and central U.S. extends from Maine southward to Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, eastern Colorado, Nebraska and North Dakota. 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 have been found during most months of the year in different areas of the range, with April through September being the peak months. As of 2023, our records range from mid-March through mid-September. Local population in North Carolina appear to have two or three generations per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from habitats ranging from barrier islands to mountain cove forests. Both riparian and xeric sandhills habitats are used in the areas in between.
Larval Host Plants: BugGuide has a Texas rearing record for Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights; more information is needed on the hosts and larval life history.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: G5 S3S4
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
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 in the state and inhabits a diversity of habitats, which suggests that it is reasonably secure.

 Photo Gallery for Perispasta caeculalis - Titian Peale's Pyralid Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18
Caswell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-20
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-04-05
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2022-08-28
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-07-02
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-06-24
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-04-22
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-10
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-09-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-07-28
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-04-29
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-04-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-04-18
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-04-07
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-03-17
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-06-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-06-14
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-08-31
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2016-06-24
Washington Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Merrill Lynch on 2015-05-11
Watauga Co.
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