Lambdina fiscellaria


Lambdina fiscellaria, the mournful thorn or hemlock looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and from Canada south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California.
The adult is grey to cream coloured with scalloped wing borders and resembles the oak besma. Darker line across fore and hind wings, a second line across fore wings. Area between lines may be shaded or unshaded.
The wingspan is about 35 mm. The moth flies from August to early October depending on the location.
The larvae feed on hemlock, balsam fir, white spruce, oak and other hardwoods.

Subspecies

There are three recognised subspecies: