Species Eulithis gracilineata - Greater Grapevine Looper - Hodges#7197

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · See Also · Print References · Internet References

Caterpillar on virginia creeper - Eulithis gracilineata

Greater Grapevine Looper - Eulithis gracilineata

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 Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)

Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)

Subfamily Larentiinae

Tribe Hydriomenini

Genus Eulithis

Species gracilineata (Greater Grapevine Looper - Hodges#7197)

Hodges Number

7197

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Eulithis gracilineata (Guenée, [1858])

original combination Cidaria gracilineata Guenée, 1857

* phylogenetic sequence #211025

Size

Wingspan 35-40 mm

Identification

Lesser Grapevine Looper (Eulithis diversilineata) is similar but smaller. Adults of E. diversilineata and E. gracilineata cannot be separated by appearance alone without rearing or dissection:

However, the forewing measures do not overlap (Lesser 12-15 mm; Greater, 16-19 mm). Thus, photographs with a millimeter rule are crucial for identification. Compare these images of Lesser (left) and Greater (right).

Another example of measuring the forewing can be seen on iNaturalist here. The wingspan can also be used, though it may need to be corrected for posture: Lesser has a wingspan of 28–33 mm, Greater 35-40 mm.

See Also

Lesser Grapevine Looper (Eulithis diversilineata).

Print References

Choi, Sei-Woong (2001) Phylogeny of Eulithis Hübner and Related Genera (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), with an Implication of Wing Pattern Evolution; AMERICAN MUSUEM Novitates, no. 3318, 37 pp. (PDF download)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group

Strickland Museum species page, with description, size, habitat, range, life history

Contributed by Cotinis on 13 January, 2006 - 3:59pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Tony-2, anitagould, Chuck Sexton, Randy Hardy, Kyhl Austin
Last updated 13 June, 2024 - 9:12am

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