Blackberry Looper

Blackberry Looper

Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
GEOMETRID MOTH FAMILY (Geometridae)

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The Blackberry Looper moth has a wingspan of approximately 5/8 to 1 inch. The wings are a grayish to bluish-green with a granulated appearance. The costa, am and pm lines are cream-colored. The pm line is straight or nearly straight. The wing edges are ragged. Discal dots are lacking on all wings. The larva grows to less than an inch long. It is green and slender with many small white dots and pale bands on abdominal segments. It often has red, brown or purple dorsal stripes. The head has forward projecting horns and the back end is pointed.

 

The frequency of occurrence is not known. The individual shown here was photographed in late August at Fontenelle Forest.

 

The caterpillars eat blackberries and petals of various composite flowers including goldenrod, asters, sunflowers and coneflowers. Their fruit-eating habits may be unique among the loopers. It overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon spun in leaf litter.

 

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