Western Skiff Moth
Common NameWestern Skiff Moth
Scientific NameProlimacodes badia
FamilyLimacodidae
SubfamilyLimacodinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsbrown, white, orange
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, forest edges
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas
Host Plantsoak, maple, birch, cherry, willow, hickory, beech
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are slug-like, flattened, and green, known as slug caterpillars, feeding on various deciduous trees. They pupate in a tough, oval cocoon.
Identification TipsKey features include the reddish-brown forewings with a prominent curved white band and the pale, 'skiff' or 'boat' shaped mark on the thorax.
Description
This small to medium-sized moth has rich reddish-brown forewings marked with a broad, curved white band and a distinctive pale, boat-shaped mark on its fuzzy thorax.
