100 More Species #36 Red-crossed button slug moth

[urbpan]

Red-crossed button slug moth Tortricidia pallida

Perhaps you are noticing a pattern with these moth posts: the common name describes only the larva stage of the animal. Fair enough, I suppose: the caterpillar eats (usually a specific subset of plants, causing concern or not) and lives a relatively long time, while the adult flits about crazily trying to breed in the few short weeks (or days) it has to live. It does make for a quizzical species entry to call a dainty moth with an upturned "tail" (abdomen) a "slug." But if you saw the larva (which I haven't--but I thought I did when I saw a hoverfly larva) you'd understand.

Slug caterpillars get by with greatly reduced legs or none at all, clinging usually to the underside of the leaves of their host plant, sliding along and eating it. In the case of the red-crossed button slug, these include beech, cherry, oak, and willow--of which only cherry is represented in our yard (other trees especially oaks are within easy flying distance). The caterpillar is green with lurid and gory red markings on its back charitably imagined as a cross by whoever named this creature.

Comments

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

what a neat little moth :)

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

CUTE!