Looper
Guides
Allagrapha aerea
Unspotted Looper Moth, Copper Looper Moth
A medium-sized noctuid moth found across eastern North America. Adults fly from spring through early autumn, with two generations annually. Larvae are loopers that move with a characteristic looping gait.
Alsophila pometaria
Fall Cankerworm Moth, Fall Cankerworm, Inchworm
Alsophila pometaria, the fall cankerworm, is a native North American geometrid moth notable for its sexually dimorphic adults: males are winged and capable of flight, while females are wingless, flightless, and lack functional mouthparts. The species exhibits a distinctive life cycle with adult emergence in late autumn and early winter, egg-laying on tree bark, and larval feeding in spring. Caterpillars are known as "inchworms" or "loopers" due to their characteristic looping locomotion. The species is a generalist defoliator of deciduous hardwood trees and can reach outbreak densities, causing significant economic and ecological impact.
Autographa corusca
Caramel Looper
Autographa corusca is a noctuid moth endemic to the Pacific Northwest coastal forests. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 33 mm and are active in midsummer. Larvae feed on alder species (Alnus).
Autographa rubidus
Rusty Looper
Autographa rubidus, commonly known as the Rusty Looper, is a noctuid moth species native to North America. The species ranges from Newfoundland west across southern Canada to southeastern British Columbia, extending south to Maine and Minnesota. As a member of the Plusiinae subfamily, it shares the characteristic looper caterpillar morphology with related species. The specific epithet "rubidus" refers to a reddish or rusty coloration, though detailed adult morphology remains poorly documented in available sources.
Caenurgia chloropha
Vetch Looper Moth
Caenurgia chloropha, commonly known as the vetch looper moth, is a nocturnal moth species in the family Erebidae. Adults are active from spring through fall with multiple generations per year. The species is distributed across the southeastern United States, northern Mexico, and Cuba, with occasional strays reaching southern Ontario. Larvae feed on leguminous plants including vetch.
Caenurgina crassiuscula
Clover Looper, Range Grass Moth
Caenurgina crassiuscula, commonly known as the Clover Looper or Range Grass Moth, is a widespread moth species in the family Erebidae. First described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1809, it occurs across much of North America from coast to coast, with western populations extending into Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Adults are active for much of the year, with flight periods varying by location from March through November. The species is notable for its larval association with clover and various grasses.
Caenurgina erechtea
Forage Looper, Common Grass Moth
Caenurgina erechtea, commonly known as the Forage Looper or Common Grass Moth, is a widespread moth species in the family Erebidae. First described by Pieter Cramer in 1780, it occurs across the continental United States and adjacent Canadian provinces. Adults are active from March through November, with timing varying by location. The species is frequently encountered in lawns and grassy areas, where walking through vegetation readily flushes individuals during daylight hours.
Campaea perlata
Pale Beauty, Fringed Looper, Light Emerald
Campaea perlata is a medium-sized geometrid moth found throughout North America, commonly known as the pale beauty. Adults are pale greenish to white with faint continuous lines across both forewings and hindwings, with females notably larger than males. The caterpillar, called the fringed looper, is an inchworm with distinctive fringe-like setae and twig-mimicking camouflage. The species has two annual generations in most of its range, with larvae overwintering on exposed tree trunks and branches.
Ceratonyx arizonensis
Ceratonyx arizonensis is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It belongs to the genus Ceratonyx, which contains species commonly known as spanworms or loopers. The species epithet 'arizonensis' indicates its association with Arizona. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species in available sources.
Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
Blackberry Looper, Blackberry Looper Moth, Raspberry Looper
A small emerald geometrid moth widespread across eastern and central North America. Adults are active from spring through fall with multiple generations. Larvae feed on blackberry and raspberry fruits as well as flower heads of numerous Asteraceae species. The species has been documented on prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) and recently recorded on Eriogonum alatum (Polygonaceae), representing a host range extension beyond its previously known associations.
Chrysodeixis
Chrysodeixis is a genus of owlet moths (family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae) described by Jacob Hübner in 1821. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly Chrysodeixis includens (soybean looper) and C. chalcites (tomato looper), which cause defoliation damage to legume and solanaceous crops. Larvae are characterized by having three pairs of prolegs and a distinctive looping locomotion.
Cyclophora pendulinaria
sweetfern geometer moth, pearly-grey wave
A small geometrid moth with wingspan 17–26 mm, found across much of North America from Newfoundland to the Yukon and south to Georgia. Adults are active from spring through fall, with larvae feeding on sweetfern (Comptonia) and alder (Alnus) leaves. The species inhabits moist to mesic forests.
Eupithecia strattonata
Spirea Looper
Eupithecia strattonata, commonly known as the Spirea Looper, is a small geometrid moth found in eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 17 mm and are active during June and July. The species inhabits damp, open wetlands including marshes, bogs, and abandoned pastures. Larvae feed on Alnus (alders) and Spiraea species, with one documented instance of feeding on Actaea rubra fruit. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Iridopsis pergracilis
cypress looper moth, Cypress Gray
Iridopsis pergracilis, commonly known as the cypress looper moth or Cypress Gray, is a geometrid moth species described by George Duryea Hulst in 1900. The species occurs in the eastern United States from Maryland to Florida. Adults have a wingspan of 26–28 mm. The larvae are specialized feeders on Taxodium distichum (bald cypress), including the variety T. distichum var. nutans.
Iridopsis pseudoherse
Iridopsis pseudoherse is a species of geometrid moth in the subfamily Ennominae, described by Rindge in 1966. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are known as inchworms or loopers, characterized by their distinctive locomotion using only prolegs at the body extremes. The species is part of a group that includes some soybean-feeding members, though specific host associations for I. pseudoherse remain undocumented.
Lambdina fervidaria
curve-lined looper, spring hemlock looper, curved-lined looper moth
Lambdina fervidaria is a geometrid moth found in eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 27 mm and are active from May to August. The species has two recognized subspecies with slightly different host plant preferences. Larvae feed on hardwood trees including oaks and ashes, while the subspecies L. f. athasaria specializes on conifers such as balsam fir, spruce, and eastern hemlock.
Lambdina punctata
Lambdina punctata is a geometrid moth species known as a looper, documented in Utah and recorded as a host for the ichneumon wasp Coccygomimus sanguinipes erythropus. The species belongs to a genus of moths commonly associated with woody plants, though specific life history details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Macaria signaria
dusky peacock, pale-marked angle, spruce-fir looper, Northern Conifer Angles
Macaria signaria is a small geometrid moth with a wingspan of 20–28 mm. Two subspecies are recognized: M. s. signaria across Eurasia and M. s. dispuncta in North America. The species is associated with coniferous forests and has been documented feeding on spruce and larch as larvae.
Megalographa biloba
Bilobed Looper Moth, Stephens' Gem
A noctuid moth in the subfamily Plusiinae with a wingspan of 38–44 mm. It occurs from the southern United States through Central and South America to Argentina, and migrates seasonally into northern United States and southern Canada where it produces one or two summer generations but rarely survives winter. The species is sometimes considered a pest on cultivated lettuce.
Melanolophia imitata
Western Carpet, Green-striped Forest Looper
A spring-flying geometrid moth of western North America, notable for large, pale adults that occur in consistently high abundance. Adults fly during late evening and are less attracted to light than many moth species. The species shows minimal migratory movement but can form dense aggregations that create visible 'clouds' in forested habitats. Larvae are conifer-feeding loopers that prefer Douglas fir, Tsuga, and Abies.
Mocis latipes
Small Mocis Moth, Striped Grass Looper
Mocis latipes is a moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the Small Mocis Moth or Striped Grass Looper. It has a broad distribution across the Americas, from southern Canada through the United States and into Central and South America. The species is notable for its grass-feeding larval stage, which can include agricultural crops such as rice and corn.
Nepytia freemani
Western False Hemlock Looper
Nepytia freemani is a geometrid moth known as the western false hemlock looper, described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1963. The species has a one-year life cycle, overwintering as eggs with larvae emerging in mid-May, feeding through summer, and pupating in late July. Adults appear in August and September. The species has been documented reaching outbreak proportions, with a notable outbreak occurring in north central Utah from 1965 to 1967.
Nepytia janetae
Nepytia janetae is a geometrid moth species that has transitioned from an innocuous, poorly studied insect to a significant forest pest in the southwestern United States. Since 1996, four major outbreaks have caused extensive defoliation and mortality of conifer trees across tens of thousands of acres in Arizona and New Mexico mountain ranges. The species exhibits an unusual life history as a univoltine, autumn- and winter-feeding looper at high elevations where temperatures regularly approach or fall below 0°F. Outbreaks appear associated with reduced snowpack, though the precise climatic mechanisms remain unclear.
Nepytia phantasmaria
phantom hemlock looper
Nepytia phantasmaria is a geometrid moth native to North America, described by Herman Strecker in 1899. It is commonly known as the phantom hemlock looper. The species is part of the looper moth group, with larvae that are defoliators of conifer foliage. Its activity patterns have been studied in relation to environmental conditions, showing associations with sunset and sunrise periods.
Plusiinae
Plusiine Looper Moths, Looper Moths
Plusiinae is a subfamily of moths within Noctuidae, commonly known as plusiine looper moths. The group is characterized by larvae with three pairs of prolegs that move with a distinctive looping gait. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean and other legumes. The subfamily is relatively small compared to other noctuid groups, and its taxonomic status may be elevated to family rank pending resolution of Noctuidae paraphyly.
Polychrysia esmeralda
delphinium leaftier
Polychrysia esmeralda, commonly known as the delphinium leaftier, is a noctuid moth described by Charles Oberthür in 1880. The species name derives from Greek roots meaning "many" and "gold," referring to the adult's shining golden wing coloration. It occurs across northern North America and eastern Siberia, with larvae specializing on toxic Ranunculaceae host plants including monkshood and delphinium. The species is notable for its distinctive larval behavior of tying leaves together with silk and spinning a gold-colored cocoon within.
Protoboarmia porcelaria
Porcelain Gray, Dash-lined Looper
Protoboarmia porcelaria is a Geometrid moth commonly known as the Porcelain Gray or Dash-lined Looper. Adults are medium-sized with brown-gray wings marked by crossed curved lines and a distinctive black blotch. The species occurs throughout North America except the far north, with one generation annually in northern regions and two in southern areas. Larvae feed primarily on conifer foliage and overwinter in their penultimate instar stage.
Pseudeva purpurigera
Western Straight-lined Looper, Straight-lined Looper Moth
Pseudeva purpurigera, the Western Straight-lined Looper, is a noctuid moth found across western and eastern North America. Adults display distinctive thoracic and abdominal tufts that give a 'mohawk' appearance. The species has one generation annually, with adults active in mid-summer.
Sabulodes aegrotata
Omnivorous Looper
Sabulodes aegrotata, commonly known as the omnivorous looper, is a geometrid moth native to northwestern North America. The species is notable for its broad larval diet spanning multiple plant families, including alder, willow, and California bay laurel. Adults are active year-round and possess a wingspan of 35–44 mm. The species serves as a host for egg parasitoids in the families Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae.
Scopula ancellata
angled wave moth, pointed-winged wave
Scopula ancellata is a geometrid moth species first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1887. It is found across much of North America, from Quebec west to the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, and south to Michigan, Indiana, and Arizona. The species inhabits mixed wood and coniferous forests. Adults are small moths with a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. The larvae have been recorded feeding on Melilotus alba and Alnus tenuifolia.
Synchlora
Emerald moths, Wavy-lined emeralds
Synchlora is a genus of emerald moths in the family Geometridae, characterized by adults with leaf-green wings and larvae that exhibit remarkable camouflage behavior. Larvae actively adorn their bodies with pieces of host plants, creating a 'double cloak of invisibility' that makes them nearly indistinguishable from their surroundings. The genus name derives from Greek 'syn-' (with) and 'chlor' (green), referencing the green coloration of adults. Twelve species occur in North America, with S. aerata being the most widespread in the eastern United States.
Synchlora aerata
Wavy-lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
Synchlora aerata is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, known for its remarkable larval behavior of camouflaging itself with plant material. The caterpillar, called the camouflaged looper, attaches bits of flowers, leaves, or other plant tissue to spines on its back, rendering it nearly invisible among the vegetation it consumes. The adult moth exhibits characteristic wavy white lines across its emerald green wings. The species is widespread across North America and has been documented feeding on numerous composite flowers and other plants.
Synchlora aerata-frondaria
Wavy-lined Emerald, Camouflaged looper
Synchlora aerata-frondaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. The caterpillars are remarkable for their unique camouflage behavior: they adorn their bodies with pieces of the plants upon which they feed, including flower petals, spent anthers, and other plant fragments. This behavior makes them extremely difficult to detect when resting on vegetation. The adult moth is known as the wavy-lined emerald, characterized by its green coloration. The species is widespread in the eastern United States, with particularly notable populations in the southeastern region.
Synchlora graefiaria
Synchlora graefiaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Hulst in 1886. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, its caterpillars are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with bits of plant material from their host plants to blend into their surroundings. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its range and biology remain limited in available literature.
Synchlora pectinaria
Synchlora pectinaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, described by Grossbeck in 1910. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, its caterpillars are known for adorning their bodies with bits of plant material—flower petals, leaves, and other vegetation—to achieve remarkable camouflage. This behavior, shared with the more widespread S. aerata, makes the larvae exceptionally difficult to detect among the flowers and foliage they consume. The species is part of the emerald moth group (subfamily Geometrinae), characterized by their typically green adult coloration.
Syngrapha diasema
Dwarf Birch Looper
Syngrapha diasema is a noctuid moth distributed across Arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America. First described by Boisduval in 1829, it is commonly known as the Dwarf Birch Looper. The species has a wingspan of 30–33 mm and completes one generation per year.
Syngrapha surena
Surena Looper Moth
Syngrapha surena, known as the Surena Looper Moth, is a North American noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1882. The species belongs to the subfamily Plusiinae, which includes the 'looper' or 'owlet' moths characterized by their distinctive wing patterns and reduced forelegs. It is a rarely encountered species with limited observational records, suggesting either genuine rarity or cryptic habits that limit detection.