VARIOUS LOOPER moths & MOONSEED MOTH

Celery Looper moth, attracted with UV light. 

This is a Celery Looper moth, nectaring on chrysanthemums. These common day-flying moths are fond of flowers.

Unspotted Looper. Unlike most looper moths, this species does not have a white stigma. Unspotted Looper moths have yellow faces, and their wings are violet and golden-brown. 

Golden Looper, photographed October 24, 2020, at Cox Arboretum. This species typically lives further to our south. It is uncommon to see one in Ohio. 

Bilobed Looper. The large fused stigma is its distinctive feature. This is a migrant species, and its presence in our area is unpredictable. I found a few individuals at Cox Arboretum on May 25, 2017. 

Moonseed Moth. This gorgeous species is named after its host plant, Common Moonseed.

Pink-patched Looper moth. I found this beauty waiting at my moth lights on the morning of June 29, 2019. The colors on its wings reminded me of a sunrise. Later, when I was researching this species, I read that its scientific name means "dawn-bearing wings". I like to think that the person who named this species noticed the same resemblance to a sunrise. 

Golden Looper, photographed November 3, 2016, at Cox Arboretum. I found this moth on a rather gray, overcast day. I remember thinking that it would be a waste of time to look for butterflies in such weather. Sure enough, I didn't find any butterflies - but this little gem of a moth more than made up for it.

Another view of the Golden Looper moth. I have found only two individuals, this one and the one below (both at Cox Arboretum). 

I find Unspotted Looper moths at my lights from May through October.  

Pink-washed Looper moth. The pink color is much more subtle than in the species above. Superficially, they are very similar to Common Loopers, but with some minor differences. This is typically a southern species, uncommonly seen in Ohio. I found this individual at my lights on October 26, 2022. 

I have found Celery Loopers every month from May through November, but they are more common in late summer and fall.

Another shot of the Celery Looper (same individual as above). He did not want to sit still very long for photos! 

Moonseed Moth. I have found several individuals at my UV lights from April through August. 

Another Moonseed Moth, resting on my fingertip.