COMMON LOOPER
Autographa precationis
OWLET MOTHS (Noctuidae)
Description
The Common Looper has a wingspan of about 1.50 inches. The forewing is grayish brown with bronze highlights. The two part silver stigma has an inverted V-shaped inner part and a solid outer spot. The stigma is surrounded by a reddish-brown to dark brown patch. The hindwing is grayish-brown. It has a thin, red collar. This moth is very similar to the Soybean Looper (Chrysodeixis includens) but it does not have a red collar and the stigma has more of a U-shape. The caterpillar is green with many whitish squiggly lines. The head is shiny green with a large black bar on each side. The mature caterpillar grows to 1 3/8 inches.
Occurrence
The Common Looper Moth is probably common at Neale Woods and Fontenelle Forest. It has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest in August 2009, September 2011 and September 2013. This moth migrates in from the south in summer.
Comments
The larva eats the leaves of low growing plants including bean, cabbage, clover, dandelion and plantain. It is also known as the Plantain Looper.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Nature Association who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page
is: Babs Padelford.
|
|
