Limacodidae
Encyclopedia
Limacodidae or Euclidae is a family of moth
s in the superfamily Zygaenoidea
or the Cossoidea
; the placement is in dispute. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillar
s bear a distinct resemblance to slug
s. They are also called cup moths because of the shape of their cocoons.
They are mostly tropical, but occur worldwide, with about 1000 described species and probably many more as yet undescribed species.
with their abdomen
s sticking out at 90 degrees from the thorax
and wings. North American moths are mostly cryptic browns, sometimes marked with white or green, but the hag moth mimics bee
s.
constructs a silk cocoon and hardens it with calcium oxalate excreted from the malpighian tubules. Cocoons have a circular escape hatch, formed from a line of weakness in the silk matrix. It is forced open by the pupa just prior to emergence of the adult.
s they have suckers. The thoracic legs are reduced, but always present and they locomote by rolling waves rather than walking with individual prolegs. They even use a lubricant
, a kind of liquified silk
, to locomote on.
Larvae might be confused with the similarly flattened larvae of Lycaenid
butterflies, but those caterpillars have prolegs, are always longer than they are wide, and are always densely covered in short or long setae (hair-like bristles). The head is extended during feeding in the Lycaenids, but remains covered in Limacodidae.
Many Limacodidae larvae are green and fairly smooth (e.g. Yellow shouldered slug, pictured), but others have tubercles with urticating hair
s and may have bright warning colours. The sting can be quite potent, causing severe pain.
The larval head is concealed under folds. First instar
s skeletonize the leaf (avoiding small veins and eating mostly one surface), but later instars eat the whole leaf, usually from the underside. Many species seem to feed on several genera of host plants.
Research on Limacodidae larvae in temperate forests of eastern North America has found that they prefer glabrous leaves, presumably because the trichomes of pubescent leaves interfere with their movement.
are flattened and thin. They are highly transparent and the larva can be seen developing inside. They may be laid singly or in clusters on leaves.
, Penthocrates meyrick, Aarodia nana) have caused serious defoliation of palm
s.
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
s in the superfamily Zygaenoidea
Zygaenoidea
Zygaenoidea is the superfamily of moths that includes burnet moths, forester moths, and relatives.The families are:* Aididae* Anomoeotidae* Cyclotornidae* Dalceridae* Epipyropidae* Heterogynidae* Himantopteridae* Lacturidae* Limacodidae...
or the Cossoidea
Cossoidea
Cossoidea is the superfamily of moths that includes carpenter moths and relatives. Like their likely sister group Sesioidea they are internal feeders and have spiny pupae with moveable segments to allow them to extrude out of their exit holes in stems and trunks during emergence of the adult .The...
; the placement is in dispute. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s bear a distinct resemblance to slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s. They are also called cup moths because of the shape of their cocoons.
They are mostly tropical, but occur worldwide, with about 1000 described species and probably many more as yet undescribed species.
Moths
They are small, hairy moths, with reduced or absent mouthparts and fringed wings. They often perchwith their abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
s sticking out at 90 degrees from the thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
and wings. North American moths are mostly cryptic browns, sometimes marked with white or green, but the hag moth mimics bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s.
Pupae
The final instarInstar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
constructs a silk cocoon and hardens it with calcium oxalate excreted from the malpighian tubules. Cocoons have a circular escape hatch, formed from a line of weakness in the silk matrix. It is forced open by the pupa just prior to emergence of the adult.
Caterpillars
The larvae are typically very flattened, and instead of prolegProleg
A Proleg is the small fleshy, stub structure found on the ventral surface of the abdomen of most larval forms of insects of the order Lepidoptera, though they can also be found on other larval insects such as sawflies and a few types of flies....
s they have suckers. The thoracic legs are reduced, but always present and they locomote by rolling waves rather than walking with individual prolegs. They even use a lubricant
Lubricant
A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction between moving surfaces. It may also have the function of transporting foreign particles and of distributing heat...
, a kind of liquified silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, to locomote on.
Larvae might be confused with the similarly flattened larvae of Lycaenid
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
butterflies, but those caterpillars have prolegs, are always longer than they are wide, and are always densely covered in short or long setae (hair-like bristles). The head is extended during feeding in the Lycaenids, but remains covered in Limacodidae.
Many Limacodidae larvae are green and fairly smooth (e.g. Yellow shouldered slug, pictured), but others have tubercles with urticating hair
Urticating hair
Urticating hairs, i.e. stinging hairs, are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, some New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. Urtica is Latin for "nettle", and hairs that urticate are characteristic of this type of plant, and many other plants in...
s and may have bright warning colours. The sting can be quite potent, causing severe pain.
The larval head is concealed under folds. First instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
s skeletonize the leaf (avoiding small veins and eating mostly one surface), but later instars eat the whole leaf, usually from the underside. Many species seem to feed on several genera of host plants.
Research on Limacodidae larvae in temperate forests of eastern North America has found that they prefer glabrous leaves, presumably because the trichomes of pubescent leaves interfere with their movement.
Eggs
EggsEgg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
are flattened and thin. They are highly transparent and the larva can be seen developing inside. They may be laid singly or in clusters on leaves.
Ecological importance
Limacodidae (e.g. Latoia viridissima, Parasa lepidaParasa lepida
The Nettle Caterpillar or Blue-striped Nettle Grub is a moth of the Limacodidae family. It is found in the Indo-Malayan region, including India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia...
, Penthocrates meyrick, Aarodia nana) have caused serious defoliation of palm
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
s.
Notable species
- Hag moth or Monkey slug, Phobetron pithecium
- Ochre-winged hag moth or Yellow-shouldered slug, Lithacodes fasciola
- Spiny oak slugSpiny oak slugThe spiny oak slug is a moth in the family Limacodidae.-Life cycle:There is one generation a year in the most of the northern parts of its range, with caterpillars seen from late June to October . Two generations or more from Missouri south.-Larva:The larva is flattened and ovoid in outline, with...
, Euclea delphinii - Crowned slug, Isa textulaIsa textulaThe Crowned Slug Moth or Skiff Moth is a moth of the Limacodidae family. It is found from Minnesota, southern Ontario and Massachusetts to Florida and Mississippi....
- Skiff moth, Prolimacoides badia
- Nettle caterpillar, Latoia viridissima
- Saddleback caterpillarSaddleback caterpillarThe saddleback caterpillar, Sibine stimulea, is the larva of a species of moth native to eastern North America. The species belongs to the family of slug caterpillars, Limacodidae. It is also known as the "packsaddle"....
, Sibine stimulea
External links
- Brisbane Limacodids, with photo of cocoon.
- http://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1/limacodidae/gallery.php Moths of Borneo