Erebidae Cisthene plumbea Lead-colored Lichen Moth 60 50 n=1 ••• • • • • • • 40 High Mt. • • N 30 • •• u 20 • • • • • m • • 10 • • • • b • 0 • e • • • • • • • 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: 47 • • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • • o 60 • f • • • 50 n=44 • = Sighting or Collection Low Mt. High counts of: • • in NC since 2001 F 40 • = Not seen since 2001 l 30 50 - Cumberland - 2002-05-16 • i 20 40 - Stokes - 1996-09-10 g 10 Status Rank h 31 - Pender - 1998-05-18 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 60 60 t 50 n=64 50 n=262 e 40 Pd 40 CP s 30 30 20 20 10 10 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: Erebidae SUBFAMILY: Arctiinae TRIBE: Lithosiini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: One of twenty species in this genus that occur in North America, five of which have been recorded in North Carolina FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, Bugguide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1960) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Wagner (2005) ID COMMENTS: Lead to dark gray with pinkish to yellowish shading on the head and along the inner and costal margins of the forewings; a large triangular patch of the same color projects up from the inner margin in the postmedian area of the forewing. This species is larger than our other species of Cisthene and its pattern is unique; it can be easily identified from a good quality photograph. DISTRIBUTION: Probably occurs statewide FLIGHT COMMENT: Appears to be bivoltine, with strong spring-summer flight and another one in the fall HABITAT: Recorded in virtually all types of forested habitats in the state; does not show any clear association with hardwoods versus conifers, wet or mesic versus dry habitats FOOD: Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and Cyanobacteria (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). OBSERVATION_METHODS: Comes well to blacklights but none of our records come from bait NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S5] STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands COMMENTS: Widespread, abundant, and occupying an extremely broad range of habitats, this species is secure within the state March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1.