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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

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Family Limacodidae - Slug Caterpillar Moths

Lichen Camouflaged...Thing - Euclea delphinii Yellow-Shouldered Slug - Lithacodes fasciola Isa textula - detail - Isa textula Isa textula Hag Moth Caterpillar? - Phobetron pithecium Caterpillar ID please - Acharia stimulea Colorful Larva! Found Sept. 18, 2007 - Euclea Button Slug - Tortricidia
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
No Taxon (Moths)
Superfamily Zygaenoidea
Family Limacodidae (Slug Caterpillar Moths)
Other Common Names
Slug Caterpillars (larvae)
Slug Moths (adults)
Explanation of Names
larvae move with a slug-like gliding motion
Numbers
all North American genera in this family belong to subfamily Limacodinae
Identification
Adult: body stout, often hairy; wings broad, rounded, often brown or yellowish with contrasting forewing markings; head small, retracted; antennae bipectinate in male, at least in basal half; abdomen often elevated and recurved when at rest, but this posture is not unique to slug moths

Larva: body variably naked to densely hairy, usually with stinging hairs; may be green, brown, or various other colors - often bright and/or strikingly patterned; surface may be smooth, bumpy, or ridged, sometimes with spines or spine-covered fleshy protuberances giving a bizarre appearance
Life Cycle
overwinters as a larva in loose oval cocoon
Internet References
live adult images of numerous species by various photographers (Moth Photographers Group)
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
By Charles V. Covell, Jr.