Barberry Looper – Coryphista meadii

Barberry Looper   Scientific Name:  Coryphista meadii Common Name: Barberry geometer moth, Barberry looper Appearance:  Barberry looper is a dark brown or orangish-brown moth that ranges in size from 30 to 36 mm. It features grey wings with rippled margins and dark individual lines. It has a plump larva with a red-orange head and may grow up to 25mm in length. The forewing apex is comparatively sharper than other moths giving it a distinct appearance. Host Plants or Food: Barberry looper larvae feed on barberry shrub, which is common throughout the subtropical areas. The reason they are called barberry loopers is also because of their tendency to live off the barberry plant. Territory: Throughout North America, Western USA, Eastern USA Mode of Damage:  Barberry loopers are active leaf chewers and damage the plant by eating away the entire foliage. Habits and Life History: Barberry loopers are found in subtropical areas of the world, where barberry shrubs are abundant. The larval barberry looper is capable of skeletonizing the leaves and usually starts its activity at night. The females lay eggs on the leaves, which gives rise to greyish larvae with white stripes on the body. The larvae drop to the soil, where they burrow in it to pupate into an adult. Barberry loopers also go dormant during the winters in the soil, called over-wintering in layman’s terms. There may be several generations of the moth per year.