Shagreened Slug Moth (4669)

Apoda biguttata

Family Limacodidae
Photograph copyright by Tony Leukering

28 May 2012

Belleplain S. F. Headquarters

CMMP block F09
Distribution map

This post's subject is the first of, presumably, many to come that holds its butt in the air when perched. This behavior may be an adaptation at avoiding predation by critters that use sight to find food, as the odd posture makes for an odd outline, perhaps convincing some would-be predator that the moth is just some odd bit of detritus, not a juicy tidbit. Whether that is true or not, we may never really know, but the behavior makes for an easy and quick recognition factor when identifying moths. Unfortunately, quite a few moth groups have developed it. So, though nearly all of the slug moths (family Limacodidae) adopt this posture, so do some geometers (Geometridae; see Horned Spanworm) and prominents (Notodontidae), as well as members of other families. On the bright side, a goodly portion of the northeastern North American moths that do "moon" are slug moths, so that family is a good place to start when you encounter such a beast.

The slug moths are another group of microleps, and our focus species here is a small thing (10-15 mm). Despite that, it's a striking beast that can pull your eyeballs off much larger and otherwise-more-enticing moths at your backdoor light.