Fletcher's Larch Looper(Eupithecia fletcherata)

From Bugwoodwiki

Fletcher's eupithecia Photo by Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archive, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Hexapoda (including Insecta) Order: Lepidoptera Family: Geometridae Genus: Eupithecia Species: fletcherata Scientific Name Eupithecia fletcherata Taylor

Contents 1 Description 2 Food 3 Life Cycle 4 Comments 5 References

Description

Slender, brownish body with dorsal diamonds and lateral oblique lines; variable body color. Dark brown head; brown middorsal stripe expanded into diamond on A1 to A5 or A6. Slightly curved, white oblique line above spiracles with purplish to dark brown areas above and below; dark brown subspiracular stripe. Anal plate edged with white posteriorly; dark brown prolegs on A10; whitish, partly speckled venter with reddish brown stripe down center. Up to 13 mm.

Food

Eastern larch and white spruce; uncommonly red and black spruces.

Life Cycle

One generation. Pupa overwinters. Mature caterpillar present from July to September.

Comments

This looper is the species of Eupithecia most closely associated with larch in northeastern North America. Two other species that occasionally eat larch are the early brown looper, E. annulata, and the fir needle inchworm, E. lariciata. Both of these caterpillars, however, also feed on many other conifers. The fir needle inchworm usually has a yellowish brown body with purplish markings.

References

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.