Common Looper Moth

Common Looper Moth

Autographa precationis
OWLET MOTHS (Noctuidae)

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The Common Looper Moth 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.

 

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.

 

The larva eats the leaves of low growing plants including bean, cabbage, clover, dandelion and plantain. It is also known as the Plantain Looper.

 

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