Erebidae

Crambidia pallida Pale Lichen

10 9 8 n=4 • 7 High Mt. • • 6 • • N 5 • u 4 3 • • • • m 2 • • b 1 • e 0 • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 • 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 20 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • • o 10 • • f 9 n=34 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: • in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 34 - Swain - 2004-06-15 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 30 - Swain - 2004-07-21 g 2 Status Rank h 1 24 - Macon - 2001-08-18 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=7 8 n=17 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: Lithosiini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: One of eleven named species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), of which six been recorded in North Carolina (several others are still undescribed). Two undescribed species that appear to be in the same species complex with pallida were mentioned by Forbes (1960) and may be present in North Carolina; other undescribed species may also be present.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, Bugguide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1960) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Wagner (2005)

ID COMMENTS: Generally small and pale grayish brown with lighter veins. Both sexes are similar and possess simple antennae, differing from C. lithosiodes in both respects. Certain populations are somewhat darker and/or smaller and may represent undescribed species; which one is the true pallida is unclear.

DISTRIBUTION: The complex occurs statewide; the distribution of the individual species is unclear

FLIGHT COMMENT: Unclear until the species can be distinguished

HABITAT: The majority of our records for this complex come from the Coastal Plain, where it occupies a wide range of habitats, including maritime forests, floodplain hardwoods, peatlands, and wet-to-dry Longleaf Pine Communities. Records from the Piedmont and Mountains come from both lowland and upland stands of hardwood forests. Until the members of this complex can be reliably separated, the degree of habitat specialization within this group cannot be determined.

FOOD: Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and Cyanobacteria (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Comes commonly to abundantly to blacklight traps. Rarely, if ever, attracted to bait.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [SU]

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

COMMENTS: While this complex as a whole appears to be widespread and secure within the state, determination of the conservation status of individual species cannot be determined until the of this group is resolved.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1