Moths of North Carolina
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Adoneta Members:
28 NC Records

Adoneta bicaudata Dyar, 1904 - Long-horned Slug Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 660042.00 MONA Number: 4684.00
Comments: The genus Adoneta contains four recognized species in North America, with all but one occurring in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005); Marquis et al. (2019)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species, the head, thorax, palps, antennae and ground color of the forewings vary from light yellowish tan to light reddish-brown. The thorax is covered with long hairs, and the legs tend to be a darker shade than the overall body color. Dark brown or blackish shading is often present along the margins of the thorax and on the apical fourth of the forewing. The forewing is marked with two whitish lines. The first extends from the inner margin at about one-third the length from the base to the tornus. It curved slightly posteriorly before terminating near the middle of the wing. The second extends from the costa at about four-fifths and parallels the termen before ending near the middle of the wing. Both lines are often faintly edged with blackish scales along the distal and proximal margins. Specimens typically have four black spots that include a curved line of three spots just beyond and interior to the postmedian white line, and a single spot that is costad to and between the ends of the two white lines. The fringe is usually darker than the general ground color, and the hindwing is similar in color to the forewing, but of a lighter shade. This species generally resembles Adoneta pygmaea, but the latter is much smaller, lack the row of three black dots, and is rare in North Carolina, with only a single record from the Sandhills as of 2023.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is largely undocumented, but is presumably similar to that of other slug caterpilllars. The hosts are also poorly documented but appear to be a variety of deciduous broadleaf species. The later instars are oval shaped with green along the sides and a prominent series of two to four purplish blotches along the mid-dorsal region that are surrounded by a broad yellowish to reddish band. Raised patches of spines are present along the dorsolateral region and the lower sides. The anterior end has two short horn-like structures, while the posterior end has two elongated appendages with spines.

The larva of Adoneta bicaudata is similar to that of A. spinuloides, except for having the last pair of posterior appendages much more elongated. Those of A. bicaudata are about four times longer than wide, while those of A. spinuloides are about two times longer than wide and only slightly larger than the other raised clusters of spines along the dosolateral and thoracic region (Marquis et al., 2019).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Adoneta bicaudata occurs in the eastern US from New Jersey and Maryland westward to southern Ohio and southern Indiana, and southward mostly through the Appalachian region to South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. There is one isolated record from southeastern Arkansas. As of 2023, our records are all from the Blue Ridge eastward to the central Piedmont, except for a single specimen from Carteret County along the coast. BOLD shows two BINS for this species, with the coastal record being in a separate BIN from specimens in the main range that includes the Piedmont and Blue Ridge of North Carolina.
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 from June through November, but with a strong seasonal peak in July. As of 2023, our records are from early-July through mid-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from deciduous hardwood forests or wooded residential areas.
Larval Host Plants: The larval hosts are poorly documented, but presumably are deciduous hardwoods, as is the case with all of our other slug moths. BugGuide and MPG have records of caterpillars apparently feeding on Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua), an oak (Quercus), a greenbrier (Smilax) and a Wisteria. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the caterpillars can be found on the undersides of leaves of the host plants.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Adoneta bicaudata appears to be somewhat uncommon in North Carolina, with scattered populations reported from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont. Additional information is needed on its host use and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Adoneta bicaudata - Long-horned Slug Moth

Photos: 14

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-08-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2018-07-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-07-30
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-08-03
McDowell Co.
Comment: