Dark-spotted looper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dark-spotted looper |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Diachrysia
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| Species: |
D. aereoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Diachrysia aereoides (Grote, 1864)
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The Dark-Spotted Looper (scientific name: Diachrysia aereoides) is a type of moth. It's also sometimes called the Lined Copper Looper. This moth belongs to a big family of moths called Noctuidae, often known as "owlet moths." A scientist named Augustus Radcliffe Grote first officially described this species in 1864.
Contents
Discovering the Dark-Spotted Looper
Where Does This Moth Live?
You can find the Dark-Spotted Looper moth across North America. It lives from Newfoundland in the east all the way west to northern California. Its most southern home is in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What Does This Moth Look Like?
These moths have a wingspan of about 28 to 40 millimeters. That's roughly the length of two to three paper clips! Adult moths are usually flying around from June to July. They have one generation born each year. This means that the moths lay eggs, and those eggs grow into new moths once a year.
What Do Dark-Spotted Looper Larvae Eat?
The young moths, called larvae (or caterpillars), are not picky eaters. They likely feed on many different kinds of plants. These include both soft, green plants (herbaceous) and woody plants like shrubs. Scientists have seen them eating plants from families like Asteraceae (which includes daisies), Lamiaceae (like mints), and Rosaceae (like roses).
