Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Juniper Geometer (Patalene olyzonaria puber)

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 dark angular lines dorsally and laterally. Brown and gray head with dark brown herringbone pattern on lobes and with narrow, curved, brownish line behind stemmata; upper frons edged with dark brown. Dark brown, intermittent, zigzag lines cross in middorsal region, outlining brown dorsal diamonds; pair of black dorsal warts on A9; whitish patches below angular lines in subdorsal area. Yellow spiracles preceded by elongate, brownish white spots with dark brown edge above and followed by fleshy, raised brownish bumps, particularly on abdomen. Up to 30 mm.

Food. Atlantic white-cedar and eastern red-cedar; less commonly northern white-cedar and possibly other species of Cupressaceae.

Life Cycle. Two generations in southern New England, and apparently three in southern New Jersey. Egg probably overwinters. Mature caterpillar present from June to October in New England.

Comments. This caterpillar usually is cryptic when it rests on its food plant. The juniper geometer forms a green and white pupa that blends well with the foliage of its food plants.

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