Common Fern Looper
Common NameCommon Fern Looper
Scientific NamePhalaenostola metata
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyBoletobiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, grey
HabitatWoodlands, forests, and areas with ferns
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida, west to Texas and Manitoba
Host PlantsDryopteris spp. (wood ferns), Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern)
Flight PeriodMay to September (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are 'loopers' that feed on ferns, pupating in leaf litter or soil.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, cryptic brown coloration with two distinct oblique lines on the forewings, and slightly irregular wing margins. Often found in habitats rich in ferns.
Description
A small, cryptic moth with mottled brown and reddish-brown forewings, featuring two prominent, dark, oblique lines. Its irregular wing margins contribute to its dead-leaf mimicry.
