Anagrapha falcifera
Family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae
Photograph copyright by Tony Leukering
20 April 2012
Lizardtail Sanctuary powerline cut
CMMP block N11
As Mike Crewe has pointed out on numerous occasions, the "loopers" of the Noctuidae are not. "Looper" is a term coined for caterpillars of the members of the Geometridae, and also known as "inchworms" or "measuring worms;" noctuid caterpillars are not at all similar. Most of the noctuid loopers are species of open country, with quite a few being crop pests and named after those crops (e.g., celery, clover, and soybean).
Most of these moths are quite attractive, with many having distinctively-shaped silver stigmata (singular, "stigma") on the forewings. These stigmata are distinctive enough that if an unknown moth sports such, one can probably start among the Plusiinae with fair expectation of finding the ID solution there. The stigma of Celery Looper creates a silvery tip to a long, arching strip of white that juts into the dark of the inner portion of the wing. This is one of the few strongly diurnal members of the Noctuidae (which is, obviously, named for the night!), and it can be found nearly throughout the county in old fields and powerline cuts. While the species' caterpillar does eat celery, locally it is probably primarily attracted to clover, corn, and dandelions. The individual pictured here was my lifer and another picture of the same critter is provided below.
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