Lithacodes fasciola
| Lithacodes fasciola | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Limacodidae |
| Genus: | Lithacodes |
| Species: | L. fasciola |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithacodes fasciola ((Herrich-Schäffer 1854) ) | |
Lithacodes fasciola, the yellow-shouldered slug or ochre-winged hag moth, is a moth of the family Limacodidae.
Lifecycle
[edit]One generation a year occurs in the north, but two or more in the southern United States, so mature caterpillars may be found from May to November.[1]
Larva
[edit]The larva is flattened and ovoid in outline, with a short, squared off "tail". It is a bright yellow green with yellow and green stripes along its length. Small craters dot its topside. Maximum length is 15 mm.[1] Like all limacodids, the legs are shortened and the prolegs are reduced to suction cups. A high proportion of larvae have parasitoids. Their presence can be determined before emergence by a black spot formed by the breathing siphon of the fly.
Pupa
[edit]This species pupates in a cup-shaped cocoon with a circular escape hatch.
Adult
[edit]The small (1 cm) moth is "hairy" and brown, with a white stripe bordered in black across the fore wings, black spots, and a black crescent. The under wing is a paler grey brown.[1]
Food plants
[edit]This moth eats a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs, such as apple, beech, birch, blueberry, cherry, chestnut, hickory, honey locust, hornbeam, linden, maple, oak, and willow.
Gallery
[edit]
Larva, Delton, Michigan
Larva
Larvae in a research facility, Washington, DC
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Moths of Maryland image