Caripeta divisata (Grey Spruce Looper Moth)

I was kind of thrilled to actually find this moth (family Geometridae) in an area that contained its eponymous spruces (Engelmann spruce in that area), although I can’t say for certain that that was the larval host of this bug, since there are Doug-fir and western hemlock in the area. It was the last new moth of the evening on Saturday night, since a deluge started just as I was photographing it.

Description-Medium sized (13-18mm) moth with a broad grayish brown irregular band, fairly large white discal spot, zigzag postmedial and antimedial lines that are black bordered in white; light brown near margin and wing bases.

Similar species–Caripeta aequaliaria has red band, and smaller or more diffuse discal spot; C. angustiorata has a relatively smooth post medial line and an L-shaped antemedial line, and is only found in the northern Rockies and associated ranges and foothills.

Habitat-Coniferous and mixed forests.

Range-Northern North America, excluding the Great Plains, and south to California in the west and Florida in the east; primarily west of the Cascades in our region, but also in forested areas on the eastside.

Eats-Larval hosts are conifers, primarily various spruce, Douglas fir, and western hemlock in our region.

Reproduction-Univoltine; overwinters as pupa in soil or debris

Adults active-May through September, peak in June-July

Etymology of names-Francis Walker did not give any clues whatsoever as to why he named this genus Caripeta. Going by possible root words from Latin, it may mean ‘coma squinting’ or ‘greedy rotting’ or ‘shrimp seeking’, none of which seem likely. Nor does Walker explain what division, which is what divisata means in Latin, the specific epithet references.