Species Details

Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta in June. IdentificationA small (1.5-2.5 cm wingspan) broad-winged moth with rust or yellow-brown forewings and tan-tinted white hindwings. The forewings are essentially unmarked, with a diffuse slightly darker median band reaching the apex. The veins are all slightly darker and are visible against the ground. The hindwings are white with a very light tan tint, and with the brown fringe forming a narrow terminal band. In shape and size testacea resembles a small gemetrid moth, but the color and pattern will separate it, as will the different wing venation. Tortricidia testacea is the only member of the family Limacodidae (Slug-catterpillar Moths) found in Alberta.

Scientific Name Tortricidia testacea Habitat Deciduous woodland; urban plantations. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta in June. Identification
A small (1.5-2.5 cm wingspan) broad-winged moth with rust or yellow-brown forewings and tan-tinted white hindwings. The forewings are essentially unmarked, with a diffuse slightly darker median band reaching the…
A small (1.5-2.5 cm wingspan) broad-winged moth with rust or yellow-brown forewings and tan-tinted white hindwings. The forewings are essentially unmarked, with a diffuse slightly darker median band reaching the apex. The veins are all slightly darker and are visible against the ground. The hindwings are white with a very light tan tint, and with the brown fringe forming a narrow terminal band. In shape and size testacea resembles a small gemetrid moth, but the color and pattern will separate it, as will the different wing venation. Tortricidia testacea is the only member of the family Limacodidae (Slug-catterpillar Moths) found in Alberta.
Life History
The caterpillars are short-legged and slug-like, and give the family their name, the slug-caterpillar moths. They are solitary defoliators of deciduous trees. In Alberta there is apparently a single brood each year,…
The caterpillars are short-legged and slug-like, and give the family their name, the slug-caterpillar moths. They are solitary defoliators of deciduous trees. In Alberta there is apparently a single brood each year, with the adults emerging in June. The adults are attracted to light.
Conservation Rarely collected in Alberta where they are at the northern edge of their range. Diet Info
No Alberta data; elsewhere a variety of hardwoods have been reported as hosts, including oak (Quercus), beech (Fagus), birch (Betula), chestnut (Castanea), wild cherry (Prunus), hickory (Carya) and Mountain alder…
No Alberta data; elsewhere a variety of hardwoods have been reported as hosts, including oak (Quercus), beech (Fagus), birch (Betula), chestnut (Castanea), wild cherry (Prunus), hickory (Carya) and Mountain alder (Alnus). (Handfield, 1999; Prentice, 1965).
Range
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick west to southern BC, south to the Gulf of Mexico states. In Alberta it has been collected mainly along the eastern edge of the province, from north of Fort McMurray south to the…
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick west to southern BC, south to the Gulf of Mexico states. In Alberta it has been collected mainly along the eastern edge of the province, from north of Fort McMurray south to the Wainwright dunes area, and in the Peace River area.

Citation

Page Citation for Tortricidia testacea

Page Citation

"Species Details - Tortricidia testacea, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2828. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author
Date 2003-03

References

Specimen Information

There are 18 specimens of this Species.

18 results plotted on map in 7 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM42050 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42051 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-06

UASM42052 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-06

UASM42053 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42054 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42055 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42056 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-06

UASM42057 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42058 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42059 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM42060 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM40195 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM58027 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edgerton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C. Date Collected2004-06-01

CBCC1260 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Moose Lake Provincial Park Collected ByChristensen, C. B. Date Collected2005-06-25

BIRD29494 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park Collected ByVincent, J. Date Collected2002-06-22

BIRD29495 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2004-06-22

BIRD29496 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lowden Springs Conservation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-06-09

BIRD29497 - Tortricidia testacea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-06-29

Adult Seasonal Distribution