Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFLimacodidae Members: Tortricidia Members: 118 NC Records

Tortricidia flexuosa of authors (not Grote, 1880) - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth


Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsTortricidia flexuosa of authorsTortricidia flexuosa of authors
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea
Family:
Limacodidae
P3 Number:
57a0063
MONA Number:
4654.00
MONA Synonym:
Tortricidia flexuosa
Comments: The adults of this species and T. pallida 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. Another issue involves nomenclature. As noted by Epstein and Fiesler (in Pohl and Nanz, eds.; 2023) and reported here verbatim, the original description of T. pallida by Herrich-Schäffer was only an illustration, one that matches what has been considered to be T. flexuosa by authors since. By priority, this would make the more marked phenotypes to be true T. pallida rather than those with little or no markings: the T. pallida of authors that followed. Tortricidia pallida of authors would be another taxon, perhaps T. flavula, which matches the less marked phenotype but is a darker, more vivid orange-brown. Pending further research, for expediency Epstein and Fiesler treated the species as they have most recently been known, and append "of authors" to both names to reflect the uncertainty in application of the names as they were described. In the text that follows, we refer to "Tortricidia flexuosa of authors" as simply Tortricidia flexuosa.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: 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).
Structural photos
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.
Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
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
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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 of authors - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth

65 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-05-18
Madison Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06
Cumberland Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06
Cumberland Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06
Cumberland Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02
Chatham Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31
Orange Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-07-28
Buncombe Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26
Rowan Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26
Rowan Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25
McDowell Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-06-24
Watauga Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03
Madison Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
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Tortricidia flexuosa of authorsRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-14
Madison Co.
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