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

Adoneta spinuloides (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - Purple-crested Slug Moth

Adoneta spinuloidesAdoneta spinuloidesAdoneta spinuloidesAdoneta spinuloides
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Zygaenoidea Family: LimacodidaeP3 Number: 57a0086 MONA Number: 4685.00
Comments: The genus Adoneta contains four recognized species in North America, with all but one occurring in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (2005); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Dyar (1897a); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species the head and thorax are reddish brown with whitish scales infused along the posterior margin of the thorax and often along the margins of the vertex. The thorax is covered with long hairs, and the legs tend to be a darker than the overall body color, with substantial areas of blackish or dark reddish-brown scales. The forewing has a rusty reddish-brown ground color and is marked with two whitish lines. The first is a curving or sinuous line that projects from the inner margin at about one-third and terminates near the middle of the wing. The second extends from the costa at about four-fifths and roughly parallels the termen before ending near the middle of the wing. The proximal margins of both lines usually abut large, diffuse patches of buffy or cream-white scales. Other marks on the forewing include a diffuse patch of blackish scales in the discal area between the two white lines, a triangular patch of dark reddish-brown scales along the basal fifth of the inner margin that is bisected by a whitish streak, a similar large region of diffuse, dark reddish-brown scales below the inner margin on the apical half, and three diffuse blackish dots on the apical third that parallel the outer margin near the middle of the wing. The fringe is blackish with a central white line, while the hindwing is pale grayish brown. The length from the tip of the head to the apex of the forewing at rest averages 10 mm (n = 4) for North Carolina specimens.
Wingspan: 1.6 - 2.4 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae mostly feed on the leaves deciduous trees. Dyar (1897a) described life history aspects of populations in New York where the eggs are laid in July and the larvae complete their growth by September. Females may lay eggs either singly or in patches of 2-10, and it is not uncommon to find several caterpillars on the same tree. The eggs hatch in about 7 days, and the first instar molts without feeding. The larvae have seven instars, with the final instar ranging from 8.2-11.8 mm. The final instar spins a cocoon on the ground for overwintering, with pupation following in the spring.

The slug-like, oval-shaped caterpillars are flattened above and have green along the sides. The later instars have a prominent series of two to four purplish blotches along the mid-dorsal region that are surrounded by a broad lemon-yellow to reddish band. Raised patches of spines are present along the dorsolateral region and the lower sides. Those in the dorsolateral region are light green or yellowish over the middle segments, and reddish anteriorly and posteriorly. The anterior end of the body has two short horn-like structures, while the posterior end has two short appendages with spines. The larvae of Adoneta bicaudata are similar to those 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 (Wagner, 2005; Marquis et al., 2019). The sting of the larvae is mild, with the discomfort fading after just a few minutes (Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Adoneta spinuloides is broadly distributed across the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern 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, Illinois, Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. This species occurs statewide in 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
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 have been found from January through November, with a strong seasonal peak in June through August in most areas of the range. As of 2023, our records are from late-April through late-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are typically found where deciduous hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood forests are present. Populations are also commonly found in other habitats that support deciduous hardwoods such as fencerows, field edges, and semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on a variety of trees and to a lesser extent shrubs (Dyar, 1897a; Wagner, 2005; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported host include serviceberries (Amelanchier), Common Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), birches (Betula), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), chestnuts (Castanea), American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), apples (Malus), bayberries (Myrica), Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), White Oak (Quercus alba), Chestnut Oak (Q. montana), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Black Oak (Q. velutina), locusts (Robinia), roses (Rosa), willows (Salix), and American Basswood (Tilia americana), and elms (Ulmus). In North Carolina, we have recorded the species feeding on Boxelder (Acer negundo) and Winged Elm (Ulmus alata), but it presumably uses a range of other hosts as well. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are readily attracted to lights and the larvae can be found on the leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [G4G5] S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Adoneta spinuloides occurs throughout the state and feeds on a wide variety of hardwood trees. It appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Adoneta spinuloides - Purple-crested Slug Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-01
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-31
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-02
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-01
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-06-24
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-06-24
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-07
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-28
Orange 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: K. Bischof on 2023-07-17
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-09
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2022-07-06
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-22
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-16
Madison Co.
Comment: