The field guide I have says: “Loopers: Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Plusiinae”. I always thought loopers were Geometrids, too, but then I’m no moth’er and I know names change all the time. Anywayss, I do have a dorsal view, and will post it for your inspection on the main page of this post Thanks for helping out!
Plusiinae have one pair of abdominal prolegs “missing”, so get called semi-loopers in most guides, along with many of the “quadrifine” noctuidae (Erebidae, including Catocalini).
Thx for posting the second view – looks likely to be an Apamea sp. (http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/pinned.php?plate=30&sort=h), but the American species are many and difficult for anyone not familiar with the American species…
great shot of the profile to show the thoracic scale tufts. Did you shoot the dorsal view from overhead, so as to show the wing pattern?
Noctuidae is correct, though the looper moths are Geometridae….
The field guide I have says: “Loopers: Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Plusiinae”. I always thought loopers were Geometrids, too, but then I’m no moth’er and I know names change all the time. Anywayss, I do have a dorsal view, and will post it for your inspection on the main page of this post
Thanks for helping out!
Plusiinae have one pair of abdominal prolegs “missing”, so get called semi-loopers in most guides, along with many of the “quadrifine” noctuidae (Erebidae, including Catocalini).
Thx for posting the second view – looks likely to be an Apamea sp. (http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/pinned.php?plate=30&sort=h), but the American species are many and difficult for anyone not familiar with the American species…
missed out a vital phrase above – “larval” should be inserted before abdominal…