Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFLimacodidae Members: 72 NC Records

Apoda y-inversum (Packard, 1864) - Yellow-collared Slug Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660025.00 MONA Number: 4667.00
Comments: One of five members of the genus to occur in N.A., three of which occur in NC. In adult form superficially similar in appearance to Tortricidia flexuosa and Heterogenea shurtleffi, but those species typically smaller and less well marked.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: FW creamy yellow or pale orange to light brown with reddish to dark brown median line running from the mid-point of the inner margin to near the mid-point of the costa, and a similar but obtuse line running from the outer margin to the costa, together forming a triangular or trapezoidal shape. This species has two distinctly different forms, with numerous gradations in between. Both forms show an X or vertical hour glass shape centered inside the trapezoid. On the light form these are the only markings, sometimes faint, the FW otherwise being concolorous. On the dark form the trapezoid is filled in with dark brown or black scaling, with the loops of the hour glass being the same color as the light portions of the FW. Length from tip of head to apex of FW at rest averages 13 mm (n = 5). Larvae: The slug-like caterpillar is similar to that of A. biguttata in being pale blue-green with a pair of sub-dorsal stripes (more pronounced than in biguttata), but it differs from that species by having a yellow rim along the front edge of the thorax (Wagner, 2005).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Deciduous woodlands.
Larval Host Plants: American hornbeam, beech, hickory, and oaks (Heppner, 2007).
Observation Methods: Readily attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Also called Inverted Y Slug Moth.

 Photo Gallery for Apoda y-inversum - Yellow-collared Slug Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-17
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-04
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-27
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-21
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-08-01
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior Carlson on 2020-07-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2019-07-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2019-07-21
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-06-30
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-08-14
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2018-06-17
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2018-06-17
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2018-06-01
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-07-01
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-18
McDowell Co.
Comment: