Citrus Looper

Ascotis selenaria

When startled, the caterpillar stiffens its body at an angle from a branch, perfectly mimicking a dead twig to fool hungry birds.

Scientific name: Ascotis selenaria
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Geometridae › Ascotis
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Forests, orchards, agricultural fields, and suburban gardens.
Diet: Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants including citrus, tea, and woody shrubs; adults feed on flower nectar.
Range: Southern Europe, Africa, East Asia, Indian Subcontinent
Size: Wingspan of 38 to 48 mm
Lifespan: 30 to 50 days (from egg to adult death)
Active: nocturnal
Threats: Widespread use of chemical pesticides in agricultural settings.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. These moths and their caterpillars pose no threat to humans. You can safely observe them at any distance. If a caterpillar is found on agricultural crops, it can be gently relocated to non-crop vegetation.

Ascotis selenaria , the giant looper , is a moth of the family Geometridae.

Photo: Céline, CC-BY, via iNaturalist