Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Limacodidae Members:	Monoleuca Members:	92 NC Records

Monoleuca semifascia (Walker, 1855) - Pin-striped Vermilion Slug Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea

Family:
Limacodidae

P3 Number:
57a0092

MONA Number:
4691.00

Other Common Name:
Pin-striped Slug Moth

Comments: Monoleuca semifascia is one of two representatives of this genus that are currently recognized in North America. Both occur in the east, but only M. semifascia has been documented in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (2005)

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: This species is entirely warm brown or reddish brown, except for a silvery white to yellowish white, transverse, wavy line that runs from before the midpoint of the inner margin to the middle of the wing. The line varies in appearance from being relatively wide and obvious to being very thin or barely discernible.

Wingspan: 19-27 mm (BugGuide)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on deciduous hardwoods, but the larval life history is poorly documented. The later instars are slug-like with a series of longitudinal stripes that vary from salmon or pink to bright red, with the latter being more common. The dorsal and lateral areas each have a set of three thin bluish-black stripes. The body has radiating clusters of 20 or more short, whitish, stinging spines that are grouped in four lines that run the length of the body, while the anterior end bears four dark conical projections of equal size (Wagner, 2005).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Monoleuca semifascia is primarily found in the southeastern US. The range extends from eastern Texas to Florida, and northward to southeastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia and northward along the Atlantic Coast to New York. We have records from all three physiographic provinces, but the majority are from the Coastal Plain, with a few records from the Piedmont and one from a lower elevation site 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 from January through October in Florida, and typically from April through October farther north. Most populations have a seasonal peak from June and July. As of 2023, our records extend early May through early September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records come from dry habitats such as dry woodlands, flatwoods, Sandhill communities, and dune scrub on barrier islands. However, we also have at least a few records from wet savannas and peatlands.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous and feed on deciduous hardwoods (Wagner, 2005; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported hosts include Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) and other cherries, White Oak (Quercus alba), Black Oak (Q. velutina), Saw Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox), and presumably many other woody plants. In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria), greenbrier (Smilax sp.), and Small Black Blueberry (Vaccinium tenellum). - View

Observation Methods: Readily attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: Given that the reported food plants are widespread, other habitat factors, such as xeric conditions, are likely to be important factors in controlling the distribution of this species in the state.

Photo Gallery for Monoleuca semifascia - Pin-striped Vermilion Slug Moth

Photos: 30

	Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond 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 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-17 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-19 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-29 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-07 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-04 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-17 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-17 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: J. A. Anderson on 2022-06-30 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-05-23 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2022-05-19 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-08 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-27 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-06-01 Stokes Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2016-08-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH on 2011-07-07 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: E. Corey, C. Helms, M. Flanagan on 2006-10-12 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-06-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2004-07-06 Carteret Co. Comment: