Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1360928

Red-Crossed Button Slug
Tortricidia pallida

Observation date: June 23, 2022
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Near a floodlight on my deck. I just had another one of these the other night and it caused me to go back and review info on BG and other places. I have another very lightly marked one like this Lac du Flambeau on BAMONA (#1259533) and the one form the other night is also lightly marked. I also have one from Wisconsin Rapids (#1301060) that is more heavily marked. BG would seem to suggest that this might be pallida and the one from WR might be flexuosa. Of course, they all might be the same species. I will let you decide how to assign them here from a consistency standpoint.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: June 27, 2023
Coordinator notes: I like this comment on BugGuide - "Wagner (2) states that "there are no adult characters (including genitalia) that can be used to reliably separate the adults of the Red-crossed Button Slug from those of the Abbreviated Button Slug." He suggests that the two may in fact be the same species. Adults with more strongly patterned wings, and larvae with the lateral arms of the red dorsal mark extending only halfway down the sides of the body, are considered here to be the Abbreviated Button Slug." Your photo looks similar to ones that were identified as T. pallida so that's my take on this.
Checklist region(s): United States, Wisconsin, Vilas County