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Autographa Precationis

Autographa precationis

Plate XXVIII — Autographa Precationis is Fig. 28

The insect is found in Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

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2026 Editor's Note: The common looper moth (Autographa precationis) is a generalist feeder whose larvae consume a wide variety of plants, including dandelions, clover, and cabbage. To avoid the sticky, bitter sap of plants like dandelions, the caterpillars employ a strategy called trenching, where they slash the leaf's midrib to stop the flow of sap before feeding. While the species produces multiple generations annually, it is cold-intolerant and must recolonize northern regions each spring from warmer southern climates. (Ed: GG 2026-08-11)

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