Eulithis diversilineata
| Lesser grapevine looper | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Eulithis |
| Species: | E. diversilineata |
| Binomial name | |
| Eulithis diversilineata (Hübner, [1813]) | |
Eulithis diversilineata, the lesser grapevine looper, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America.
Larvae
The caterpillars are known to feed on Grape and Virginia creeper.[1] This moth spends the winter as an egg. There are two generations of mature caterpillars, first June and July, then again from August into October.[2]
The US Forest service booklet, "Geometroid caterpillars of northeastern and Appalachian forests" describes the caterpillat as "A very elongate, yellow-green to red, petiole mimic, this looper has a cleft head and conspicuous paraprocts. [The second thoracic segment] T2 bears a subtle, often pigmented, swelling. The sides of the head, legs, anterior prolegs, and paraprocts may be flushed with russet, red, or violet. Additionally, there may be a reddish middorsal stripe or spots over the anterior and posterior abdominal segments. The body setae are short and whitish. Mature larva to 4 cm."[2]
Distribution
This species is found in forests and along roadsides. Its range includes Montana, southern Ontario, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Connecticut and Maryland. [2]
Similar species
- Greater Grapevine Looper (Eulithis gracilineata)
- Chevron Moth (Eulithis testata)
References
- ↑ "Moth Caterpillars Feeding on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)". Illinois Wildflowers. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (2001). Geometroid caterpillars of northeastern and Appalachian forests (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.