Species Details

Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameLinden Looper Moth SeasonalityAdults fly in late fall, usually after the first frost, with the peak flight in mid-September. IdentificationA large yellow-tan fall-flying geometrid. The extent of the forewing dark markings are extremely variable, the AM and PM lines ranging from thin and well-defined to broad and diffused into the basal and terminal areas. The wingless females are white with two rows of dorsal black dots, matching lichen-covered tree trunks in contrast to the large dead-leaf mimicking males. E. vancouverensis, which was considered to be a subpsecies of tiliaria following Rindge's (1975) revision, appears to be a species separate from tiliaria. The distribution and differences between these two species in Alberta are currently unclear, although McGuffin (1977) maintains that vancouverensis occurs together with tiliaria in the central part of the province. McGuffin's records of E. vancouverensis are based on his examination of specimens in the Bowman collection at the University of Alberta (McGuffin 1977). Edmonton area Erannis show variation in wing markings from typical, light tiliaria to dark, vancouverensis types, and we consider all these to be variants of tiliaria. The presence of vancouverensis in central Alberta, without intervening records in western Alberta, further suggests true vancouverensis does not occur east of the Rockies in Canada. This interesting situation warrants further study.

Scientific Name Erannis tiliaria Common Name Linden Looper Moth Habitat Mixedwood boreal forest; aspen parkland. Seasonality Adults fly in late fall, usually after the first frost, with the peak flight in mid-September. Identification
A large yellow-tan fall-flying geometrid. The extent of the forewing dark markings are extremely variable, the AM and PM lines ranging from thin and well-defined to broad and diffused into the basal and terminal…
A large yellow-tan fall-flying geometrid. The extent of the forewing dark markings are extremely variable, the AM and PM lines ranging from thin and well-defined to broad and diffused into the basal and terminal areas. The wingless females are white with two rows of dorsal black dots, matching lichen-covered tree trunks in contrast to the large dead-leaf mimicking males. E. vancouverensis, which was considered to be a subpsecies of tiliaria following Rindge's (1975) revision, appears to be a species separate from tiliaria. The distribution and differences between these two species in Alberta are currently unclear, although McGuffin (1977) maintains that vancouverensis occurs together with tiliaria in the central part of the province. McGuffin's records of E. vancouverensis are based on his examination of specimens in the Bowman collection at the University of Alberta (McGuffin 1977). Edmonton area Erannis show variation in wing markings from typical, light tiliaria to dark, vancouverensis types, and we consider all these to be variants of tiliaria. The presence of vancouverensis in central Alberta, without intervening records in western Alberta, further suggests true vancouverensis does not occur east of the Rockies in Canada. This interesting situation warrants further study.
Life History
The Linden Looper larva is immediately recognizable with its brown, pin-striped dorsum and wide, bright-yellow sides. Localized outbreaks can defoliate deciduous trees and shrubs (particularly aspen and hazel in the…
The Linden Looper larva is immediately recognizable with its brown, pin-striped dorsum and wide, bright-yellow sides. Localized outbreaks can defoliate deciduous trees and shrubs (particularly aspen and hazel in the Edmonton area). Eggs overwinter in bark cracks. Male moths come to light.
Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info
Larvae are generalist feeders on deciduous trees and shrubs. Reported hosts which occur in Alberta include paper birch (Betula papyrifera), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), willow (Salix spp.), choke cherry…
Larvae are generalist feeders on deciduous trees and shrubs. Reported hosts which occur in Alberta include paper birch (Betula papyrifera), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), willow (Salix spp.), choke cherry (Prunus virginiana), and hazel (Corylus sp.) (Prentice 1963).
Range Central Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Missouri, Georgia, Utah and Texas (McGuffin 1977, Wagner et al. 2001).

Citation

Page Citation for Erannis tiliaria

Page Citation

"Species Details - Erannis tiliaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3893. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Schmidt, B. C.
Role species page author
Date 2003-08

References

Specimen Information

There are 93 specimens of this Species.

93 results plotted on map in 24 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM7056 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected1999-09-14

UASM28793 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1998-10-16

UASM28794 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1996-09-26

UASM28795 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1996-09-26

UASM9754 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1945-10-04

UASM9756 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1945-09-29

UASM9761 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1935-09-30

UASM9763 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1922-09-20

UASM9765 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1949-09-28

UASM9766 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1926-09-12

UASM9768 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1949-09-27

UASM9769 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1922-09-20

UASM9771 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1922-09-27

UASM9772 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1933-10-02

UASM9776 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1922-09-25

UASM9777 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1925-09-24

UASM9778 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByCrosby, G. C. S. Date Collected1923-10-01

UASM9779 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1949-09-22

UASM9780 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1924-10-01

UASM9781 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1922-09-26

UASM9782 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1922-09-27

Adult Seasonal Distribution