Insect · GBIF taxon 1962076
Wavy-lined Emerald
Synchlora aerataAlso known as Camouflaged Looper, Wavy-lined Emerald Moth
Wavy-lined emerald caterpillars are master disguise artists known as camouflaged loopers, meticulously biting off flower fragments and cementing them to their backs with silk to hide from birds. As the attached petals wither and brown, the larva replaces them with fresh petals that match whatever flower it is currently eating. Adult moths emerge with delicate, sea-green wings crossed by thin white zigzags, often resting flat under leaves or visiting porch lights on warm summer nights.
NocturnalCamouflagedHerbivore
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Goldenrod flowers
- Blackberry flowers
- Coneflower petals
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Jumping spiders
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsBroad-spectrum insecticides, habitat loss, and light pollution
HabitatsMeadows, prairies, roadsides, gardens, and forest edges
Life spanSeveral weeks as adults; 1 year total life cycle
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyGeometridae
- GenusSynchlora
- SpeciesSynchlora aerata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Larvae: Examine composite flowers closely in midsummer for petal fragments that twitch or crawl across blooms.
- Attracting Adults: Hang a white sheet illuminated by a blacklight on humid summer evenings to view resting adults up close.
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Host Plant no rights reserved, uploaded by Brady Reed · cc0
Close Relative (c) David Dodd, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Dodd · cc-by
Same Family (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Wavy-lined Emerald is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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