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

Prolimacodes badia (Hübner, 1822) - Skiff Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660029.00 MONA Number: 4671.00
Comments: Prolimacodes badia is one of only two members of the genus that occur in North America, and the only one that occurs in the eastern U.S. Synonymies include Limacodes scapha and Prolimacodes scapha.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Dyar (1896); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is distinctively patterned with a sharply bicolored forewing. The head, palps, antennae, and thorax are light brown, with the latter having a dark brown tuft at its posterior end. The forewing has chocolate brown coloration that extends along the costa from the wing base, then rapidly expands at about one-fourth to form a broadly rounded mark. The mark extends inward to about two-thirds the wing depth before gradually tapering to the apex. The remaining portion of the forewing is light brown to smoky gray-brown, and blends diffusely into a cream, white, or silver border where it meets the chocolate brown patterning. A prominent thoracic hump that is triangular at the rear gives the moth a "front heavy" appearance. It does not rest with the abdomen curled up above the wings as seen in some limacodids.
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult Structural Features: The length from the tip of the head to the apex of the forewing when an individual is at rest averages around 14 mm (n = 10).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on a variety of woody trees and shrubs. Dyar (1896) noted that the females in New York lay eggs singly and that the larvae feed individually on the undersides of leaves. They have seven instars, with the final instar varying from 12-18 mm in length. The final instar spins a tough, fibrous cocoon with a weakly attached cap that allows the adult to escape readily. Overwintering occurs in the cocoon stage.

The slug-like caterpillar is quite distinctive with a flat dorsum and steeply angled sides. Along the mid-point of two subdorsal ridges are short pointed projections, typically brown or white, with a white spot along the ridge near the tail. A pale line down the dorsum, and pale lines differentiating the segments on the dorsum and sides, recall scutes on a turtle shell. The anterior end of the caterpillar is rounded, while the posterior end has a short, sharply-pointed tail (Wagner, 2005). The coloration and patterning is highly variable. Individuals may be entirely cream-colored or light green, predominately green with patches of pink or brown, or green with extensive areas of brown.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Prolimacodes badia is broadly distributed across the eastern US and in adjoining areas of Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, from the barrier islands 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