In Disguise

Top Photo: Camouflage looper on right side of seed head. It’s time to start looking for camouflaged loopers. If you’re not familair with camouflaged loopers, they’re the small larvae of the small green moths in the family of moths known as Geometridae, geometrids or geometer moths. The adult moth of the camouflaged looper is called a wavy-lined emerald (Picture Here). These caterpillars (about 1/2” – 5/8”) are well known for covering themselves with the plant they feed on. The caterpillarRead more

Emeralds, Tigers, Titans, and Nymphs

Top Photo: Male eastern tiger swallowtail. The flowers in the photo are black-eyed Susan. But, notice where the arrow points. It’s pointing at what appears to be debris on the disc of one of the flowers.     The debris is actually a caterpillar, a camouflaged looper, the larva of a small moth.     Still doesn’t look like a caterpillar?     These small caterpillars attach flower and plant parts to themselves in order to disappear into the flower. In truth, I’m notRead more