Species Caripeta divisata - Gray Spruce Looper - Hodges#6863

6863

Twin-spot Girdle

wingspan 27-38 mm

larvae to 35 mm

Adult: forewing dull grayish-brown with brown shading along costa; lines black, toothed, accented with white; large white discal spot outlined in black

hindwing pale grayish-white with lighter dusting of fine brown striations or speckles

Larva: body color variable but usually reddish-brown with low, transverse dorsal ridges and light yellowish-brown lateral patches; head brownish with dark brown herringbone pattern on lobes; middorsal stripe multicolored and expanded posteriorly on segments into circular or diamond-shaped area; abdominal segments thickened at distal end, which, in combination with light lateral patches, give them a "bumpy" appearance, much like a conifer twig

coast to coast in Canada and northern United States, south in the east to Florida

coniferous and mixed woods

adults fly in June and July

larvae from August to October

larvae feed on foliage of coniferous trees: Balsam Fir, Eastern Hemlock, spruces, and White Pine in the east, and mainly Douglas-Fir and Western Hemlock in the west

overwinters as a pupa in soil or debris; one generation per year

Spodolepis substriataria is somewhat similar, but flies in early spring, usually lacks the large conspicuous white discal spot, and the median area is not darkened to form a broad band (compare images of both species)

Moth Photographers Group (MPG) (1)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) (2)

pinned adult images (CBIF)

pinned adult image plus description and other info (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests, USGS)

common name reference [Twin-spot Girdle] plus description, biology, distribution, food plants (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)

pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)

caterpillar image plus description, biology, food plants, season (forestpests.org)