Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Gray Pine Looper (Iridopsis vellivolata)

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. Reddish brown and gray body with lighter patches dorsally and laterally; variable body color. Reddish brown head with small knob on top of lobes and with grayish white spots usually coalesced into horizontal streak on lower head; prothoracic shield mottled with reddish brown except in center. Low, transverse dorsal ridge (especially on A1 to A6) that has small, paired tubercles. Greenish yellow middorsal stripe trimmed with grayish white and interrupted by grayish white rectangles that connect to bands of similar color. Wide, discontinuous, grayish white spiracular stripe, often appearing as large spots. Up to 30 mm.

Food. Pines; less commonly balsam fir, eastern larch, and spruces.

Life Cycle. One generation in New England, and apparently two in southern New Jersey. Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present from June to September.

Comments. The gray pine looper has forms with considerably more gray (Ives and Wong 1988), which apparently accounts for the common name. Some color forms of this caterpillar are similar to Caripeta species, but the pattern of crochets of Iridopsis and Caripeta species differs. The gray pine looper has its crochets in one group, whereas species of Caripeta have their crochets in two groups. The gray pine looper, which was formerly was known as Anacamptodes vellivolata, appears to mimic the sheaths of pine needles.

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