Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFLimacodidae Members: 91 NC Records

Natada nasoni (Grote, 1876) - Nason's Slug Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660037.00 MONA Number: 4679.00
Comments: One of only two representatives of this genus in North America and the only one to occur in the East.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Comparatively distinctive with dark-flecked, grayish brown to yellowish brown forewings that show two dark, straight lines that are pale-edged posteriorly. One line runs diagonally from about the midpoint of the inner margin, the other runs parallel to the outer margin from near the anal angle, both meeting the costa near the apex but not converging. Does not rest with abdomen curled upward from between wings.
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are pectinate; palps do not reach the vertex; two pairs of spurs occur on the hind tibiae in both sexes (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are stocky, with a pale green body possessing two rows of stinging spines on each side. Dorsal spines are borne from red-orange warts that are connected by a thin, yellow stripe (Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains
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: Appears to have a single flight, from May to July
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from a wide range of hardwood-containing habitats, including maritime forest and scrub on the Barrier Islands; bottomland and other riparian and lakeshore habitats; dry oak-hickory forests in the Sandhills and Piedmont slopes; and High Elevation Red Oak forests in the Mountains
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, feeding upon a variety of woody plants. Wagner (2005) lists American Hornbeam, Beech, Chestnut, Hickory, Hop Hornbeam, and Oak.
Observation Methods: Readily attracted to lights. Like other Limacodids, does not appear to come to bait or to visit flowers.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
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 on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Has a wide range in North Carolina, occupies a wide range of habitats, and utilizes a large set of host plants, many of which are common. Appears to be quite secure in our state.

 Photo Gallery for Natada nasoni - Nason's Slug Moth

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

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-05-17
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-05-05
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-18
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-14
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-13
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-09
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-08
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-08
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-07
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-09
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-26
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-18
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-07-01
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-27
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jamie Harrelson on 2020-06-12
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-06-07
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-07-30
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2019-07-07
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-07-02
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-24
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-24
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-24
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Steve Hall. on 2018-09-07
Iredell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2018-07-17
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-23
Madison Co.
Comment: