Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Limacodidae Members:	Prolimacodes Members:	261 NC Records

Prolimacodes badia (Hübner, 1822) - Skiff Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea

Family:
Limacodidae

P3 Number:
57a0065

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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical 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
Immature 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 fly year-round in Florida, with progressively shorter flight periods as one moves northward. Adults in the northern areas of the range mostly fly from May through August, with a peak in June and July. As of 2023, our records extend from late April through early September. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come a wide variety of hardwood habitats, including bottomland forests, xeric sandhill communities, dry ridges, and cove forests. We also have numerous records from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: This species feeds on deciduous trees and shrubs and is broadly polyphagous (Prentice, 1966; Wagner, 2005; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported hosts include Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), birches (Betula), hickories (Carya), American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Sweet Chestnut (C. sativa), Citrus, hawthorns (Crataegus), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Witch-hazels (Hamamelis), Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Sweet-gale (Myrica gale), Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus caroliniana), Black Cherry (P. serotina), Choke Cherry (P. virginiana), Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Live Oak (Q. virginiana), rhododendrons (Rhododendron), roses (Rosa), willows (Salix), American Basswood (Tilia americana), elms (Ulmus), and blueberries (Vaccinium). In North Carolina, larvae have been observed feeding on Red Maple, American Beech, Sweetgum, hickory, hackberry (Celtis), Common Waxmyrtle (Morella cerifera), American Sycamore, and Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). - View

Observation Methods: Readily attracted to lights but not to bait or flowers.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Shrublands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it in state parks and on other public lands.

Comments: Prolimacodes badia occurs commonly across the state, occupies a wide range of habitats, and utilizes a broad range of host plants, many of which are common species. Consequently, this species appears to be secure in North Carolina.

Photo Gallery for Prolimacodes badia - Skiff Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-12 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-04 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin, David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-08 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kenneth Geisert, David Bradley, Julie Tuttle, Patrick Coin, Kaitlyn Elliott, Becky Watkins on 2024-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-17 Johnston Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-17 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13 Pamlico 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 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-08-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-01 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-18 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-16 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-17 Graham Co. Comment: