Tag: Limacodidae

2026 Caterpillar Season – Skiff Moth

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Skiff Moth
Prolimacodes badia (Hübner, 1822) P-no. 57a0065, fam. Limacodidae
Host plant(s): Found on ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)
Date(s) found: 2 August, 2026
Locations found: Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: Skiff moths can be found in a variety of colors and patterns—from nearly pure green to containing lots of warm brown colorations that assist them in camouflage by mimicking necrotic spots on leaves. I thought the one pictured here was pretty enough to take some photos.

Larvae of the Limacodidae usually keep their heads protected within their thoracic segments. Here is a nice opportunity to see the head capsule of Prolimacodes badia along with those impressive dark mandibles.
It’s not everyday you can see the true legs of a slug moth caterpillar, but they do have them as you can see if you look closely at this photo. They provide little in regards to locomotion, but I assume they find some purpose for them.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Yellow-collared Slug

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Yellow-collared Slug Moth
Apoda y-inversum fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4667)
Host plant: Found on black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Date found: 31 August, 2025
Location found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: These photos show a mid-instar caterpillar with stinging setae that are absent in final instars.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Red-crossed Button Slug Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Red-crossed Button Slug
Tortricidia pallida fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4653)
Host plant(s): Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Click here to see adult.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Skiff Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, diptera, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Skiff Moth
Prolimacodes badia fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4671)
Host plant(s): Found on chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This poor cat is host to a tachinid fly larvae. A closeup image is included showing the egg as well as the larvae that has pierced the skin of the caterpillar in order to breath.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Crowned Slug Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Crowned Slug Moth
Isa textula fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4681)
Host plant(s): Found on sassafras, northern red oak, redbud
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 19-September, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 27 September, 2025 – Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, MO
Notes: By far the most numerous Limacodid I found in 2025.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Nason’s Slug Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Nason’s Slug Moth
Natada nasoni fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4679)
Host plant(s): northern red oak (Quercus rubra), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), white oak (Quercus alba)
Date(s) and location(s): 23, 31 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: West of the Mississippi River, this species is rarely found north of the Missouri River.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Spun Glass Slug Moth

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Spun Glass Slug Moth
Isochaetes beutenmuelleri fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4675)
Host plant(s): northern red oak (Quercus rubra)
Date(s) and location(s): 23 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: The feathery appendages of this slug moth caterpillar do not contain urticating spines and do not sting. These dense and soft setae may act as a deterrence to potential wasp and fly parasitoids in blocking easy access to the body of the caterpillar in placing or injecting eggs.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Some Nice Slugs

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

The following images were taken of a band of travelling slug moth caterpillars during our overnight WGNSS trip to Council Bluff Lake in mid-August of this year. Many thanks to Eva Weideman who collected these from her home hunting grounds in Franklin County, MO and brought them for us to observe and photograph.

Euclea delphinii (spiney oak slug moth)

Isochaetes beutenmuelleri (Beutenmueller’s slug moth/spun glass slug moth)

Parasa chloris (smaller parasa)

Parasa indetermina (stinging rose moth)

2025 Caterpillar Season – Saddleback

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Saddleback
Acharia stimulea fam. Limacodidae (Hodges#4700)
Host plant: Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Date found: ~02, Aug, 2025
Location found: Trail of Tears State park, Cape Girardeau County, MO
Notes: Three caterpillars were found at this date and location. One was found on pawpaw (Asimina triloba) and two on sassafras (Sassafras albidum).

2024 Caterpillar Season – Red-crossed Button Slug

2024 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Red-crossed Button Slug
Tortricidia pallida fam. Limacodidae
Host plant: red oak member (Quercus sp.)
Dates found: 14, Sep, 2024
Locations Found: Kaintuck Hollow, Phelps County, MO
Notes: Although we supposedly have two other button slug species in Missouri, this is the only one I’ve been able to identify. Very common.