Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Chlorochlamys Members: 134 NC Records

Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Blackberry Looper Moth


Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaChlorochlamys chloroleucariaChlorochlamys chloroleucaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea
Family:
Geometridae
Subfamily:
Geometrinae
Tribe:
Hemitheini
P3 Number:
91a0661
MONA Number:
7071.00
Comments: One of four species in this genus recorded in North America and the only one found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1969, 1985)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1969, 1985); Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A small gray-green or yellowish-green Emerald with white striae and fairly broad, cream-colored antemedian and postmedian lines. The postmedian on the forewing is fairly straight and even. The antemedian is convex on the forewing and missing on the hindwing. The fringes and costa are yellowish and the front is either yellowish or rusty-orange (Ferguson, 1985).
Forewing Length: 8-11 mm, males; 9-11.5 mm, females (Ferguson, 1985)
Adult Structural Features: Antennae of the males are broadly pectinate at the base, gradually tapering towards the apex. Only a single pair of spurs is present on the hind tibiae of the male, distinguishing them from Nemoria, Dichorda, and Synchlora, all of which have two pairs, as do females of Chlorochlamys. Male genitalia have characteristic large socii and uncus (see Ferguson, 1985, for details and illustrations).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are smoothly cylindrical, lacking the dorsolateral projections and spines found in Nemoria, Dichorda, and Synchlora. The head is bifid, with two angular, forward-projecting points; two similar points are also found on the anterior edge of the prothorax (Forbes, 1948; Ferguson, 1985). Larvae of the Pistachio Emerald (Hethemia pistaciaria) are similar but have longer and more pointed horns (Ferguson, 1985; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: Adults fly nearly continuously from March to September in the Coastal Plain; records from the Piedmont and Mountains are insufficient to determine a pattern.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Like our flower-feeding species of Synchlora, most of our records for Chlorochlamys come from open, forb-rich habitats. These include old fields and disturbed areas but also natural habitats such as maritime dunes and marshes; Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills; and lake and river shorelines. Very few of our records come from deep within closed-canopy forests, especially where herbaceous species are scarce.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on the flowers and berries of many species of forbs and shrubs. Blackberries (Rubus spp.) are commonly used (Forbes, 1984), but Ferguson (1985) and Wagner (2005) list many species of composites as well as representatives of several other families. In North Carolina, our only feeding record is from Narrowleaf Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius). - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights but we have no records from bait or flowers.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is widespread, polyphagous on a extensive range of common plants, and occupies a broad set of habitats, including disturbed areas. Consequently, it appears to be secure within our state.

 Photo Gallery for Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria - Blackberry Looper Moth

68 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25
Buncombe Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-07
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25
Wake Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-04-21
Moore Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17
Lincoln Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-11
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-01
Madison Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-04-29
Polk Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-13
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-03
Carteret Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-02
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-30
Rowan Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-23
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-16
Wilson Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-08-26
Cumberland Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-08-26
Cumberland Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-16
Transylvania Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Moore Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-21
Madison Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-04-05
Carteret Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-03-25
Wake Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-14
Orange Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-22
Caswell Co.
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Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaRecorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
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