Syngrapha viridisigma
(Grote, 1874)
spruce false looper, green-marked looper
Syngrapha viridisigma is a of looper in the Noctuidae, commonly known as the spruce false looper or green-marked looper. It was described by Grote in 1874 under the basionym Plusia viridisigma. The species is native to North America and belongs to the Plusiinae, which includes many economically important agricultural pests.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Syngrapha viridisigma: /sɪnˈɡræfə vɪˌrɪdɪˈsɪɡmə/
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Identification
The can be distinguished from other Syngrapha species by the characteristic greenish or silvery markings on the forewings, which form a distinctive pattern. The 'green-marked looper' refers to these markings. As a 'false looper,' it lacks the full complement of found in true geometrid loopers, having only four pairs of abdominal prolegs instead of five. The MONA or Hodges number 8929 provides a standardized reference for North American Lepidoptera identification.
Images
Distribution
North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada, and Vermont in the United States.
Similar Taxa
- Syngrapha aliasSimilar greenish forewing markings, but S. viridisigma can be distinguished by the specific configuration of the green sigma-shaped marking.
- Other Plusiinae 'false loopers'All share the reduced count (four pairs) that distinguishes them from true Geometridae loopers, but S. viridisigma is specifically identified by its green-marked pattern.
More Details
Nomenclature
Originally described as Plusia viridisigma Grote, 1874, later transferred to Syngrapha. The specific epithet 'viridisigma' refers to the green sigma (Σ-shaped) marking on the forewing.
Taxonomic Notes
The rank 'complex' noted in some sources may reflect taxonomic uncertainty or group designation within Syngrapha.