Conservation Status
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Not of concern.
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Cyclicity
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Adults fly in Alberta in early fall, usually from late August to late September.
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Distribution
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Widespread from the Pacific to Atlantic coast, south to PE, WI and CA (McGuffin 1987).
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General Description
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"A thinly scaled mid-sized geometrid, antennae with very long pectinations resulting in conspicuously feathery antenae. Ground colour varies from tan to brown, AM and PM lines dark, the latter bordered distally with orange-brown. Discal spots obscure.
Similar to Besma, but Lambdina fiscellaria lacks the scalloped subterminal line of Besma, and flies in the fall, not in early summer.
Three subspecies have been recognized: fiscellaria, lugubrosa (Hulst) and somniaria (Hulst) based on geographic affinities and host plant differences. However genetic evidence does not clearly support recognition of these subspecies, and L. fiscellaria appears to be a single, highly adaptable species (Sperling et al. 1999).
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Habitat
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Mixedwood and coniferous forest.
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Life Cycle
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"The larva (Hemlock Looper) is grey with various intricate longitudinal stripes and small black spots. Young larvae eat only new foliage, mature larvae eat older foliage (Wagner et al. 2001). Eggs overwinter on tree trunks, laid on bark lichens or moss.
The Hemlock Looper is an important forest pest, and can cause severe defoliation of conifers. Numerous outbreaks have been recorded in BC (Duncan 2003). For more information on the economics and management of this species see Duncan (2003) and references in McGuffin (1987).
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Trophic Strategy
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Larvae are generalists on conifers, but also occasionally feed on deciduous trees such as aspen (Populus) and willow (Salix). Favoured hosts are balsam fir (Abies balsamifera), spruce (Picea sp.), and tamarack (Larix)(Prentice 1963).
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Lambdina fiscellaria
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Lambdina fiscellaria, the mournful thorn or hemlock looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and from Canada south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California.
The adult is grey to cream coloured with scalloped wing borders and resembles the oak besma. Darker line across forewings and hindwings, a second line across forewings. Area between lines may be shaded or unshaded.[1]
The wingspan is about 35 mm. The moth flies from August to early October depending on the location.[1]
The larvae feed on hemlock, balsam fir, white spruce, oak and other hardwoods.
Subspecies
There are three recognized subspecies:
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Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria – eastern hemlock looper
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Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa – western hemlock looper
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Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria – western oak looper or Garry oak looper
Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria caterpillar
Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa caterpillar
Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria adult
Lambdina fiscellaria somniaria caterpillar
References
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^ a b Sogaard, Jim. (2009) Moths and Caterpillar of the North Woods. Duluth, MN:Kollath+Stensaas, p.53.
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Lambdina fiscellaria: Brief Summary
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Lambdina fiscellaria, the mournful thorn or hemlock looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and from Canada south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California.
The adult is grey to cream coloured with scalloped wing borders and resembles the oak besma. Darker line across forewings and hindwings, a second line across forewings. Area between lines may be shaded or unshaded.
The wingspan is about 35 mm. The moth flies from August to early October depending on the location.
The larvae feed on hemlock, balsam fir, white spruce, oak and other hardwoods.
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