Lambdina fiscellaria

Lambdina fiscellaria, the mournful thorn or hemlock looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and from Canada south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California.

Lambdina fiscellaria
Bon Echo Provincial Park, Ontario
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Lambdina
Species:
L. fiscellaria
Binomial name
Lambdina fiscellaria
Guenée, 1857
Subspecies

3, see text

Synonyms
  • Ellopia fiscellaria Guenée
  • Ellopia fervidaria Hubner
  • Ellopia somniaria Hulst
  • Lambdina flagitiaria Guenée, (1858)
  • Lambdina peccataria Guenée, (1858)
  • Lambdina johnsoni Swett, 1913
  • Lambdina turbataria Barnes & McDunnough, 1916
  • Therina fiscellaria

The adult is grey to cream coloured with scalloped wing borders and resembles the oak besma. Darker line across forewings and hindwings, a second line across forewings. Area between lines may be shaded or unshaded.[1]

The wingspan is about 35 mm. The moth flies from August to early October depending on the location.[1]

The larvae feed on hemlock, balsam fir, white spruce, oak and other hardwoods.

Subspecies

There are three recognized subspecies:

  • Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria – eastern hemlock looper
  • Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa – western hemlock looper
  • Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria – western oak looper or Garry oak looper
  • Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria caterpillar
  • Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa caterpillar
  • Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria adult
  • Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria caterpillar

References
  1. Sogaard, Jim. (2009) Moths and Caterpillar of the North Woods. Duluth, MN:Kollath+Stensaas, p.53.
  • Anweiler, G. G. (February 8, 2004). "Species Details Lambdina fiscellaria". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  • McLeod, Robin (September 1, 2020). "Species Lambdina fiscellaria - Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6888". BugGuide. Retrieved November 7, 2020.


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