GRAPEVINE LOOPER

GRAPEVINE LOOPER

Eulithis sp.
GEOMETRID MOTH FAMILY (Geometridae)

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This moth has a wingspan of about 1 to 1.25 inches. There is a sharp tooth at the midpoint of the postmedian line. The black discal spot is small or absent. It flies mostly at night and was attracted by artificial light for these images. The Greater and Lesser Grapevine Loopers (E. diversilineata and E. gracilineata) look very much the same – one is a little larger than the other. They cannot be reliably separated even with a specimen. Both species have larvae which mimic plant petioles very effectively (not yet shown).

 

This is probably a common moth at our two nature centers. Their host plant, River-bank Grape (Vitis riparia) is common on the floodplains.

 

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