Soybean Looper Moth

Pseudoplusia includens

September 27, 2002

I like the loopers (subfamily plusiinae).  They

remind me of dry docked battleships.  Many

have silvery white markings on the wings and a tuft of scales extending straight up from the upper thorax.  I once inquired as to what purpose these raised scales served and it was suggested that it breaks up the "mothy" outline of the insect.  I always suspected it had something to do with pheromone capture or distribution.  Can anyone offer a better explanation?  Please email me.

While there is no soy growing by me, there's tons of goldenrod, which the larvae also feed upon.