celery looper

(Anagrapha falcifera)

celery looper
  Hodges #

8924

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Celery looper is a medium-sized moth that is active both day and night. There are two forms, a gray form and a brown form. The gray form is more common early in the season.

The antennae are not feathered.

The outer margin, leading edge (costal margin), and base of the forewing of the gray form is light gray to brownish-gray. The inner margin is conspicuously indented at the postmedian region. There is a large, rectangular, dark brown patch in the median portion. The stigma is a curved, silvery-white bar that forms a loop at the end. The upper arm of the stigma is a short spur. The lower arm extends to the inner margin of the wing along the basal edge of the dark patch. Beyond the stigma reddish spot is usually visible.

The hindwing is reddish-brown or grayish-brown with a narrow, pale, postmedian region.

The brown form is similar but has a dark reddish-brown forewing with paler, grayish-brown outer margin and basal regions.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Wingspan: 1¼ to 19 16

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Meadows, pastures, crops, roadsides, and other open areas

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

May to September. Two or more generations per year.

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Pupa overwinter in the soil and emerge in the spring when the temperature reaches 50°F.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Plantain (Plantago), viburnum (Viburnum), clover, and various crops.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Flower nectar

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 21, 75.

 
  12/22/2015      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and widespread. This is a serious pest on many crop species.

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Noctuidae (cutworm moths and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Plusiinae  
 

Tribe

Plusiini  
  Subtribe Plusiina  
 

Genus

Anagrapha  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

celery looper

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

Stigma

In plants, the portion of the female part of the flower that is receptive to pollen. In Lepidoptera, an area of specialized scent scales on the forewing of some skippers, hairstreaks, and moths. In other insects, a thickened, dark, or opaque cell on the leading edge of the wing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    celery looper   celery looper  
           
    celery looper   celery looper  
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Anagrapha falcifera (Celery Looper)
Allen Chartier
  Anagrapha falcifera (Celery Looper)  
Anagrapha falcifera - Celery Looper
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
  Anagrapha falcifera - Celery Looper   
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Celery Looper Moth (Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera) in Grass
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 21, 2010

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (21 April 2010).

 
  Celery Looper Moth (Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera) Lateral View
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 13, 2011

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (09 October 2011). Thank you to Paul Dennehy (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this specimen!

 
  Celery Looper Moth (Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera) Displaying
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 5, 2011

Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (05 September 2011).

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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