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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Limacodidae
660011.00 – 4653   Tortricidia pallida (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)
             Red-crossed Button Slug Moth
Distribution Data for Tortricidia pallida
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Description/
Field Marks:
Tortricidia is in need of revision.
Similar Species:
  • 4654 Tortricidia flexuosa - Marc Epstein (pers. comm., 2018) advises that we are currently unable to separate many of what we call Tortricidia pallida and Tortricidia flexuosa based on the larva, adult (including genitalia), and DNA. Furthermore, illustrations of the type of pallida, which is no longer extant, appears to be what we often refer to as flexuosa. At present, flexuosa represent all the 'morphs' (those that are heavily marked on the FW down to very little, but more on the yellowish side of things) and pallida represent the more pale, almost pinkish tan ones that have either a faint band or nothing on the FW.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: Limacodes pallida Herrich-Schäffer, 1854
Limacodes flavula Herrich-Schäffer, 1854
Taxonomic Notes: Tortricidia pallida (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854), "Marc Epstein (pers. comm.) is not convinced that the two [pallida and flexuosa] are distinct." - Wagner, 2005, p. 36.
References
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
  • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
  • Species Page at Block Island Moths
  • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
  • Species Page at Mass Moths
  • Wagner, D.L., 2005. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press, 1-512.
Tortricidia pallida
© Hugh McGuinness
Tortricidia pallida
© Lisa Ames
Tortricidia pallida
© Ken Childs
Tortricidia pallida
© Scott Justis

Tortricidia pallida
© Scott Justis

Tortricidia pallida
© Scott Justis

Tortricidia pallida
© Giff Beaton LG
on Elm

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