Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Fall Hemlock Looper (Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

Description. Brownish and grayish body with spotted head and with many longitudinal lines and stripes. Gray head with small brown and large black spots; gray prothoracic shield with yellowish patches and dark spots; grayish brown thoracic legs. Mostly brownish gray dorsum with indistinct, gray middorsal stripe trimmed in lighter gray; four black dorsal spots on each segment. Grayish white subdorsal stripe tinted with dark yellow near hind margin of segments; many grayish, brownish, or blackish longitudinal lines and stripes below subdorsal stripe. Large grayish spot above black spiracles on some segments; grayish white venter with several dark longitudinal lines. Up to 30 mm.

Food. Balsam fir and eastern hemlock; less commonly eastern larch, pines, spruces, and other conifers; also many deciduous trees and shrubs during outbreaks.

Life Cycle. One generation. Egg overwinters on foliage. Mature caterpillar present in July and August.

Comments. This species and the spring hemlock looper, Lambdina athasaria, often inhabit the same trees of balsam fir and eastern hemlock. In our studies of life history in Connecticut, however, we have found that on any one date the caterpillar of the fall hemlock looper is always larger. The fall hemlock looper has outbreaks much more frequently than does the spring hemlock looper.

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