Dimorphic Pinion Moth
Lithophane patefacta (Walker, 1858)
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Noctuinae
Identification: Adult has two color forms: light form - forewing pale brownish-gray to silvery-gray with short dark diagonal marks along costa; subreniform spot black, oblong or oval, with a smooth (not irregular) outline, and a sharply-defined (not diffuse) edge; small white spot usually present at distal end of subreniform spot; AM and PM lines represented by indistinct dark dots; diffuse dark patches along outer margin near apex and anal angle, and midway along costa; faint reddish-brown shading may be present in area around reniform spot; except for the prominent subreniform spot, most of the forewing surface is uniformly pale, giving a "washed out" appearance
dark form - lower two-thirds of forewing dark brown to blackish, as in dark forms of several other Lithophane species; upper third (along costa) pale brown or tan; hindwing dark gray with pale fringe in both forms
Wing Span: wingspan about 3.6 cm
Life History:
Flight: April to June and September to November
Caterpillar Hosts:
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Ontario and Quebec, south to South Carolina and Georgia, west to Wisconsin; also recorded from British Columbia
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 31 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8348_2.jpeg?itok=JiXSO4Au)
Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dimorphic_pinion_lithophane_patefacta_0.jpg?itok=Swbf0PdM)
Observation date: Feb 16, 2024
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 09, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn2238a.jpg?itok=45EtpBO7)
Observation date: Apr 12, 2023
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2221_2.jpg?itok=4VRD6Pm9)
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 30, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3846_2_0.jpg?itok=dxjGfgvU)
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Boone County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/10-20_wanton_pinion_lithophane_petulca_wawa_dennis.jpg?itok=KGFqbPWS)
Observation date: Oct 20, 2016
Submitted by: digginflowers
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Apr 14, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/moth-will-kerling-cape-may-courthouser-11-02-2016-www.jpg?itok=RcwU2lGi)
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Apr 14, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/may_30_2015.jpg?itok=kz61Ws12)
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: sh11
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/june_7_2015_3.jpg?itok=wfATxOJP)
Observation date: Jun 07, 2015
Submitted by: sh11
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/lithophane_patefactasendelbach.jpg?itok=YwwjCAXx)
Observation date: Mar 30, 2021
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/moth5_32.jpg?itok=58Tbu9G5)
Observation date: Mar 24, 2021
Submitted by: Jacksonfarme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 25, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dimorphic_pinion_lithophane_patefacta3.jpg?itok=unWAPWXb)
Observation date: Mar 02, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 03, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p2090124.jpg?itok=D6Ak3LJO)
Observation date: Feb 09, 2021
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/mlw-20200423-122436.jpg?itok=uxKRCxvX)
Observation date: Apr 23, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Wheeler
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Dec 14, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1578_2.jpg?itok=dHnNdigV)
Observation date: Mar 09, 2020
Submitted by: Dave Webb
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 10, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/9886_-_lithophane_patefacta_-_dimorphic_pinion_12_april_2018_22-imgp4509.jpg?itok=dLOgn4cf)
Observation date: Apr 12, 2018
Submitted by: Sue Gregoire
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 21, 2019
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Observation date: Apr 12, 2014
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 16, 2018
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Observation date: Mar 17, 2012
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 16, 2018
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 07, 2011
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 16, 2018
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Feb 11, 2009
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 16, 2018
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 21, 2009
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Tioga County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 16, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2018-02-11_11-29-281.jpg?itok=QBztM3L9)
Observation date: Feb 11, 2018
Submitted by: jtylerbell
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 12, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/lithophane.jpg?itok=XMqLqaB_)
Observation date: Nov 03, 2017
Submitted by: Dave Webb
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 10, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20160129_233556.jpg?itok=yoWSNOFs)
Observation date: Jan 29, 2016
Submitted by: Stott Noble
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 31, 2016
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