Lithacodes fasciola

Adults distinguished from similar brown limacodid moths by the combination of white forewing stripe with black borders, black spots, and black crescent marking. Larvae identifiable by the flattened, slug-like body form (characteristic of family), bright yellow-green coloration with striping, and small dorsal craters. The squared posterior of the larva differs from more tapered forms in related species.

Associated with deciduous forests and wooded areas supporting host plants. Occupies habitats containing apple, beech, birch, blueberry, cherry, chestnut, hickory, honey locust, hornbeam, linden, maple, oak, and willow.

Eastern North America. Documented from Vermont and other United States locations. Range extends across much of eastern North America with latitudinal variation in generation number.

Adult flight period and larval presence vary by latitude. In northern portions of range, one generation annually with mature caterpillars present May through November. In southern United States, two or more generations occur annually.

Larvae feed on foliage of diverse deciduous trees and shrubs: apple (Malus), beech (Fagus), birch (Betula), blueberry (Vaccinium), cherry (Prunus), chestnut (Castanea), hickory (Carya), honey locust (Gleditsia), hornbeam (Carpinus), linden (Tilia), maple (Acer), oak (Quercus), and willow (Salix).

• Malus - larval food plantapple
• Fagus - larval food plantbeech
• Betula - larval food plantbirch
• Vaccinium - larval food plantblueberry
• Prunus - larval food plantcherry
• Castanea - larval food plantchestnut
• Carya - larval food planthickory
• Gleditsia - larval food planthoney locust
• Carpinus - larval food planthornbeam
• Tilia - larval food plantlinden
• Acer - larval food plantmaple
• Quercus - larval food plantoak
• Salix - larval food plantwillow

Holometabolous with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Voltinism varies geographically: univoltine in northern range, bivoltine or multivoltine in southern United States. Larvae present May through November depending on location and generation. Pupation occurs in a cup-shaped cocoon with circular escape hatch. High proportion of larvae parasitized by flies; parasitoid presence indicated by black spot formed by breathing siphon visible before emergence.

Larvae move with characteristic slug-like locomotion due to reduced legs and suction-cup prolegs. Larvae are exposed feeders on leaf surfaces. High susceptibility to parasitoid flies has been documented.

Herbivore in deciduous forest ecosystems. Larvae function as leaf consumers on diverse woody plants. Serves as host for parasitoid flies, contributing to food web complexity. Role in nutrient cycling through herbivory and deposition of frass.

Occasional defoliator of fruit trees (apple, cherry, blueberry) and ornamental trees. Not considered a major pest. Larval contact may cause skin irritation typical of limacodid caterpillars, though specific reports for this species are not documented.

• Other Lithacodes speciesSimilar adult size and general brown coloration; distinguished by specific wing pattern elements (white stripe with black borders, black crescent)
• Other Limacodidae larvaeShared slug-like larval form; distinguished by specific color pattern of bright yellow-green with yellow and green stripes and small dorsal craters

• slug moth
• Limacodidae
• defoliator
• parasitoid host
• deciduous forest
• polyphagous

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Guest blog post: Snakes disembowel and feed on the organs of living toads in a first for science | Blog
• Guest blog post: Unique feeding behaviour of Asian kukri snakes gutting frogs and toads | Blog
• Asian snakes | Blog
• Kukri Snake | Blog