CLOVER LOOPER
Caenurgina crassiuscula
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Erebidae)
Description
The Clover Looper Moth has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The forewing is light brown with two dark bands that almost touch near the midline. The top band (Antemedial line) touches the inner margin and forms a semicircle. The very similar Forage Looper (C. erechtea) has the 2 dark bands that do not touch each other or the inner margin and the top band forms a V-shape. The caterpillar is variably colored, but is usually tan to light brown striped with the stripes extending onto the head. prolegs are absent on abdominal segments 3 and 4. The larvae grow to about 1 5/8 inches. The Forage Looper caterpillar is very similar.
Occurrence
This moth is probably common at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. The adults are active both day and night and are attracted to artificial lights. The individual shown here was photographed at Neale Woods in early July, 2013. They are found most often in fields, meadows and roadsides
Comments
The larvae eat clover and grasses. The species overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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