« Back to your search

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/2-3893/9-51607. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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.

UASM187617 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Meanook Biological Research Station Collected ByNazari, V. Date Collected2003-09-27/2003-09-28

UASM187618 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Meanook Biological Research Station Collected ByNazari, V. Date Collected2003-09-27/2003-09-28

UASM187619 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Bragg Creek Collected BySperling, F. A. H. Date Collected2006-10-07

BIRD35827 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2012-09-20

BIRD35828 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2012-09-27

BIRD36635 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2013-09-27

BIRD36636 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2013-09-27

BIRD37414 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2014-10-01

BIRD37415 - Erannis tiliaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2014-10-01

Adult Seasonal Distribution