Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFLimacodidae Members:
Tortricidia Members:
91 NC Records

Tortricidia flexuosa (Grote, 1880) - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660012.00 MONA Number: 4654.00
Comments: This is one of three closely related species of this genus to occur in North America, all of which occur in North Carolina. The adults of this species and T. flexuosa are two forms that have been treated as both a single species and two species over the years. Many of the specimens cannot be differentiated based on either the larvae or adult coloration, patterning, or external morphology. Other evidence such as genitalia or molecular barcoding data have also been found to be of little value. Experts that specialize in this group suspect that they are conspecific (Wagner, 2005; MPG). As such they are perhaps best treated as a poorly resolved species complex, T. pallida/flexuosa. We continue to recognize both species, with the caveat that many of our identifications based on external features such as coloration and patterning are provisional.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Covell (2005)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has two forms with intermediate variations. The pale (typical) form has a forewing that is pale orange to pale yellow. It is overlain by a brown or reddish AM line (often faint) that extends from the inner margin at about one-third to the costa just beyond the middle where it meets a rounded PM line that extends towards the tornus. The two lines often curve and join at the costa to form a U-shaped pattern. The forewing is sometimes unmarked or very faintly marked and the area inside the AM and PM lines is concolorous with the rest of the forewing. The second form has the area between the AM and PM lines partially or completely filled with dark brown shading, typically with a pale orbicular spot (which is less obvious on the paler "dark" individuals). This gives it a superficial similarity to the dark form of Apoda y-inversum. The hindwing is pale orange to creamy yellow and unmarked. The adults are often indistinguishable from T. pallida and are also very similar to Heterogenea shurtleffi.

The larvae differ only subtly from the other slug-like Tortricidia caterpillars. Each is pale green and oval shaped and all share broad, reddish (sometimes greenish), cross-shaped patches on the dorsum, the lateral "arms" being widest. The side "arms" on T. flexuosa usually extend only about halfway down the sides, whereas those of its congeners extend almost to the bottom edges of the abdominal segments (Wagner, 2005).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Tortricidia flexuosa is thought to range across much of the eastern US and into southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island). The exact range is difficult to define precisely because of the difficulty of confidently assigning specimens to species (see above). Specimens that we have assigned to this species have been found in all three physiographic regions, but are relatively uncommon in the Coastal Plain.
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 from April through October, with the peak flight season from June through September. As of 2023, our records range from early May through early September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Populations are found in deciduous forests, along forest edges, and in semi-wooded residential areas.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on deciduous broadleaf trees (Prentice, 1966; Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle & Leckie, 2012). The reported hosts include Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Gray Birch (Betula populifolia), Chestnuts (Castanea), apples (Malus), American Plum (Prunus americana), Black Cherry (P. serotina), and Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), but caution is warranted in interpreting these reports given the difficulty of correctly identifying the larvae and adults. - View
Observation Methods: Readily attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments: This species is relatively common across the state, but because of the identification challenges, a clear picture of the status of T. flexuosa in the state may prove elusive for the near future. Although it is tempting to assign specific names to any adults encountered, it is probably safest to call many of them "Tortricidea sp."

 Photo Gallery for Tortricidia flexuosa - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-13
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Teper D. George, S. Dunn, J. Niznik on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-03
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Ed Corey on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily L Stanley on 2023-05-12
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Brian Bockhahn on 2022-08-09
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-07-24
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-29
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-20
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-16
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-08-07
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2019-05-10
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-05-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-05-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2017-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall, Ed Corey, and Brian Bockhahn on 2017-05-17
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-06-14
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Coin, C. Sorenson on 2015-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, K. Kittelberger on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: