Moths of North Carolina

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Lithacodes fasciola (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - Yellow-shouldered Slug Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea

Family:
Limacodidae

P3 Number:
57a0054

MONA Number:
4665.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Dyars, 1897a; Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: In this species the head, palps, antennae, thorax, and ground color of the forewings vary from ocherous-red to reddish-brown. The forewing has a prominent white fascia that extends obliquely from the middle of the inner margin to the costa at about two-thirds. The fascia is usually jagged, with one or two prominent teeth, and is followed by a deep brown diffuse band. The only other prominent mark is a thin, dark brown to blackish line that extends from the costa at around three-fourths toward the tornus. The line extends perpendicular to the costa for a short distance, then sharply angles posteriorly and curves towards the tornus. The hindwing is dark brown with a slightly paler fringe that has a darker basal line.

Wingspan: 20 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on a wide variety of deciduous hardwoods. Dyars (1897a) reported that the females lay whitish, translucent eggs on the leaves of host plants. The larvae hatch in about eight days and pass through seven instars. The final instar spins a dark brown, tough, fibrous cocoon. Overwintering presumably occurs in the pre-pupal stage, with pupation occurring with the spring warm-up.

The final instar is 7-15 mm long and is smooth-bodied and lacks setae. The later instars are bright yellow-green with a pocked and granulated surface. The yellow subdorsal stripes are narrow and waved, and the subspiracular stripe is broken into yellow dots. The body is pocked with yellow-edged depressions, and the rear projects outward as a very short, squared-off tail. There are stinging spines in all but the last instar (Dyars, 1897a; Wagner 2005). Apoda caterpillars are similar, but have dark edging along the inner side of their subdorsal stripes.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Lithacodes fasciola is found throughout most of the eastern US and in adjoining portions of southern Canada from Saskatchewan eastward to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the US the range extends from Maine southward to northern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, central Kansas, central Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and northeastern North Dakota. 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 observed from February through September in different areas of the range, with the main flight season from May through September. As of 2023, our records range from late April through mid-September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally found in deciduous forests and forest edges, as well as in wetlands and semi-wooded residential neighborhoods. Many of our records are either from wetlands or bottomland and mesic forests. We also have records from Sandhill habitats near seepage slopes and headwater streams, as well as semiwooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are highly polyphagous on hardwood trees and shrubs (Dyars, 1897a; Prentice, 1966; Wagner, 2005; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010), including members of the Betulaceae, Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, Aceraceae, Salicaceae, and others (Wagner, 2005). The reported hosts include Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and other maples, Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), hickories (Carya), chestnuts (Castanea), dogwoods (Cornus), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Gaylussacia, Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), apples (Malus), bayberries (Myrica/Morella), American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and other cherries, oaks (Quercus), willows (Salix), American Basswood (Tilia americana), American Elm (Ulmus americana) and other elms, and huckleberries (Vaccinium). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Box-elder (Acer negundo), a hickory, American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), American Beech, American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), and a willow. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

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 on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This is a widespread and common species that is secure in North Carolina.

Photo Gallery for Lithacodes fasciola - Yellow-shouldered Slug Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-10 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-08-09 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Sarah Toner and Larry Chen on 2025-07-30 Tyrrell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-27 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-07-02 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-06-22 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-06-03 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-06-03 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-16 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2024-08-31 Chatham 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: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17 Madison 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: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-08-02 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-30 Wilson Co. Comment: