Moths of North Carolina
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15 NC Records

Packardia elegans (Packard, 1864) - Elegant Tailed Slug Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660019.00 MONA Number: 4661.00
Comments: One of four currently recognized members of the genus in North America, three of which occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Dyars (1898b); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The head, palps, antennae, thorax and ground color of the forewing vary from light to dark brown or grayish-brown, except for a small whitish patch of scales that is often present near the posterior margin of the thorax. A white, posteriorly oblique AM line that is diffusely edged with black on the distal margin runs from the inner margin of the forewing at about one-fourth to the midpoint of the costa. A short, white PM line is also present that runs from the inner margin in the subtornal region parallel to the AM line. It often terminates near the middle of the wing, but may extend further where it intersects a curved white line that runs at an oblique angle from just beyond the midpoint of the costa toward the tornus. At that point it meets two or three round black or dark brown spots. The forewing pattern is reminiscent of that of Packardia geminata, but on that species the AM and PM lines are dark and the spots near the tornus are white. Is is also similar to P. ceanothi,, which has a bright brownish ocherous ground color and is only known from a single site near Tryon, North Carolina.
Wingspan: 20 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult Structural Features:
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on deciduous hardwoods. Dyars (1898b) reported that the females mate the night after they emerge and lay whitish, transparent eggs individually on the undersides of leaves where the larvae feed. The larvae pass through seven instars, with the final instars varying from 7.1-13 mm in length. The final instar spins a tough, brownish cocoon and presumably overwinter in the prepupal stage. Pupation occurs in the spring and the adults emerge after the spring leaf-out. The larvae are elongated, oval-shaped, yellow-green slugs with pronounced tails that are often reddish-brown. The mid-dorsal region is dappled with darker greens, and is paralleled by a broad, wavy, yellowish subdorsal stripe on each side (Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Packardia elegans is found in eastern North America in southern Canada (Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia) and northern and mountainous regions of the US. The range in the US extends from Maine westward through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota, and southward through the Appalachian Mountains to eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina and northern Georgia. As of 2023, all of our records are from mid- to higher elevations in the Blue Ridge.
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 observed form June through October in different areas of the range. Local populations appear to be univoltine, with a seasonal peak typically in June and July. North Carolina populations also appear to be univoltine, with the adults flying from early June through late July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Dyars (1898b) noted that the larvae are typically found in heavily shaded, forested sites. Our records come from mesic montane forests, including cove forests and northern hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on deciduous hardwoods (Dyars, 1898b; Wagner, 2005; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported hosts include birches (Betula), hickories (Carya), American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Mountain Sweet-pepperbush (Clethra acuminata), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), bayberries (Myrica/Morella); Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), cherries (Prunus) and oaks (Quercus).
Observation Methods: Like other limicodids, the adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Montane Mesic Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it in state parks and on other public lands.
Comments: We only have a few records for this species. Although it is reported to feed on a fairly wide range of species, the preferred host plants used in North Carolina and other aspects of its habitat associations still need to be determined before its conservation status can be accurately assessed.

 Photo Gallery for Packardia elegans - Elegant Tailed Slug Moth

Photos: 5

Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn, K Kittelberger on 2014-06-08
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn, K Kittelberger on 2014-06-08
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Parker Backstrom on 2011-06-18
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Parker Backstrom on 2011-06-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: