Blackberry Looper Moth

Description:

Beautiful pastel green moth with cream colored markings to match. Moth came to light, and was about 1.25 cm in length. Last photo shows the size in comparison to an index finger. BugGuide Information: Adult: forewing surface texture appears granulated or "pebbled"; AM and PM lines cream or off-white with edges that seem frayed, ragged, or wiggly; discal dots lacking on all wings; whitish middorsal line on thorax continues onto abdomen Lynn Scott describes the adult thus: "Wings somewhat pale grayish green, sometimes appearing slightly bluish. On the forewing, the cream-colored antemedial and postmedial lines are clearly defined, but somewhat variable as to straightness. On the hindwing, only the postmedial line is present. A pale terminal line is sometimes evident. The fringe is also pale, sometimes a paler shade of the blue-green of the wing. The surface texture of the wing often appears somewhat alligatored. Ferguson (1985) comments also that there are no distinctive abdominal markings, but most of the specimens I have photographed show a cream stripe beginning on the thorax and extending along the abdomen." Larva: body slender, light bluish-gray with dark purplish middorsal stripe and thin pale bands separating abdominal segments; head brownish.

Habitat:

Foodplant/Host: Blackberry, and various other plants, including Goldenrod.

Notes:

Found in Gray, Maine during vacation. Came to light. Dream spotting checked off! BugGuide Information Source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/33362