Yellow-lined Conifer Looper (Cladara limitaria)

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Superorder	Holometabola
Order	Lepidoptera
Superfamily	Geometroidea
Family	Geometridae
Subfamily	Larentiinae
Tribe	Trichopterygini
Genus	Cladara

Scientific Name

Cladara limitaria

Common Name

yellowlined forest looper

Maier, C.T.; Lemmon, C.R.; Fengler, J.M.; Schweitzer, D.F.; Reardon, R.C.; Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. Morgantown, WV. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. FHTET-2004-01. March 2004. 151 p.

Description

Dark green body with pale stripes and with single yellow bands at hind margin of segments. Yellowish green head. Mostly greenish white subdorsal and spiracular stripes, the latter about twice as wide and not extending uninterrupted to head. Prolegs smaller on A6 than A10; anal plate edged with yellow posteriorly; grayish white venter. Up to 25 mm.

Food

Balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, spruces, and other conifers.

Life Cycle

One generation. Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present in May and June.

Comments

The yellow-lined conifer looper and the angle-lined carpet, Cladara anguilineata, are similar in appearance and, in fact, may be the same species. The yellow-lined conifer looper superficially resembles the powder moth, Eufidonia notataria, and at least two species of Macaria, which eat similar conifers. The powder moth, however, usually has a purplish red subspiracular stripe on the thorax. The species of Macaria lack the reddish subspiracular stripe, but they have their heads distinctly marked with brown or reddish brown. The yellow-lined conifer looper usually tucks its head under the thorax when it is disturbed.