Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View PDF	Limacodidae Members:	Tortricidia Members:	114 NC Records
Tortricidia flexuosa of authors (not Grote, 1880) - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth

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, BOLD	Technical 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 of authors - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth		61 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06 Cumberland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-06 Cumberland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-07-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26 Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 McDowell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-06-24 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24 Madison Co. Comment:
	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:

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

Photo Gallery for Tortricidia flexuosa of authors - Abbreviated Button Slug Moth

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