Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Looper Moths (Plusiinae) » Plusiini » Euchalciina » Diachrysia » Green-patched Looper - Hodges#8897 (Diachrysia balluca)

Species Diachrysia balluca - Green-patched Looper - Hodges#8897

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
8897 Green-patched Looper - Diachrysia balluca - female Diachrysia balluca - Diachrysia balluca Green-patched Looper - Hologram moth - Hodges#8897 - Diachrysia balluca Green-patched Looper - Hodges#8897 - Diachrysia balluca Unspotted looper or possibly hologram moth? - Diachrysia balluca Moth - Diachrysia balluca Diachrysia balluca Lépidoptère - Diachrysia balluca
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily Plusiinae (Looper Moths)
Tribe Plusiini
Subtribe Euchalciina
Genus Diachrysia
Species balluca (Green-patched Looper - Hodges#8897)
Hodges Number
8897
Other Common Names
Hologram Moth
Large Bressy Plusia
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Diachrysia balluca Geyer, 1832
Plusia balluca
Phytometra balluca
* phylogenetic sequence #931179
Numbers
Uncommon; one of two species in this genus in North America.
Size
Forewing length 20-25 mm (Pogue, 2005)(1)
Identification
Adult - forewing with large, highly-metallic rectangular green patch bordering inner margin (may look brown or bronze under certain lighting); basal area and strip along costa light gray; reniform spot brown with pale dot on each side; wing apex pointed. Hindwing uniformly brown with yellow fringe.
Range
Nova Scotia to Manitoba; south to Pennsylvania and Minnesota (no specimens seen from Southeastern United States) (Eichlin & Cunningham, 1978). Type location from Georgia and one Florida record from Kimble in 1965 possibly represent strays (Pogue, 2005).(1)
Season
Adults fly from June to September.
Food
Larvae feed on hops (Humulus lupulus), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), and raspberry (Rubus spp.) (E.H. Strickland Museum).
See Also
Superficially similar to Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron) which is larger and has a more sinuate outer margin of forewing.
Print References
Eichlin, T. D. & H. B. Cunningham 1978. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology. USDA Tech. Bulletin 1567: 1-122 (PDF)(2)
Lafontaine, J. D. & R. W. Poole 1991. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 25.1: p.62; pl.1.26
Pogue, M. G. 2005. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zootaxa 1032: 1–28 (PDF)(1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - species page
E.H. Strickland Museum - species page
live adult image (Al Sinclair, Ontario)
pinned adult image (CBIF)
pinned adult image (Insects of Quebec)
larval foodplants and flight season (Ohio State U.)
Works Cited
1.The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Michael G, Pogue. 2005. Magnolia Press Zootaxa 1032: 1–28.
2.The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology
Thomas D. Eichlin, Hugh B. Cunningham. 1978. United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 1567: 1-121.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 23 July, 2005 - 3:14pm
Additional contributions by tom murray, Ron M., Randy Hardy
Last updated 27 April, 2013 - 3:08pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact