Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Owen's Larch Looper (Macaria oweni)

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. Green body with pale subdorsal stripe darkened below and with purplish thoracic legs and prolegs. Purplish to reddish brown head with lobes marked in dark brown herringbone pattern; dark brown streak on lobes with pinkish white margins (extensions of subdorsal and spiracular stripes). Indistinct, dark green middorsal stripe; yellowish white subdorsal stripe with two (sometimes fused) very dark green longitudinal lines immediately below. White and yellow spiracular stripe; purplish area on anal plate. Up to 20 mm.

Food. Eastern larch.

Life Cycle. Probably one generation. Pupa overwinters in soil, debris, or sphagnum. Mature caterpillar present from July to September.

Comments. The purplish color of the head and prolegs of Owen's larch looper should distinguish it from the green larch looper (green form), Macaria sexmaculata, and another looper, M. submarmorata, on eastern larch in New England and southeastern Canada. The green larch looper (green form) has a yellowish green head and green prolegs, whereas M. submarmorata apparently has a darkly marked head and green prolegs (McGuffin 1972). Owen's larch looper formerly was known as Semiothisa oweni.

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