The eastern pine looper, Lambdina pellucidaria, is a species whose immatures feed as loopers on yellow pine needles. It is also called the pitch pine looper and the yellow-headed looper. The loopers are mottled brown and gray with brown and gray mottled stripes along the body. The head is realtively large and has brown and black spots. The first three pairs of legs are yellowish. The two pairs of abdominal legs are mottled. These caterpillars grow to about 1¹/₄ inch long and crawl about with a looping motion. Eastern pine loopers occur from August to November. When mature, the caterpillars descend to the duff and pupate there or in soil. Pupae are relatively slender and turn dark brown. The moths are mottled brown to gray and have a darker line across the wing as well as some darker wing veins. The wingspan is up to 1¹/₂ inch wide. The moths emerge from the pupae the following May and lay oval, pale green eggs that turn yellowish to tan eggs in batches along pine needles until the end of June. This looper is found throughout North Carolina where it has one generation per year.

Eastern pine loopers are slender, smooth caterpillars that "inch" about.

×

Eastern pine loopers are slender, smooth caterpillars that "inch" about.

Print Image

This eastern pine looper is showing off its two pairs of abdominal legs.

×

This eastern pine looper is showing off its two pairs of abdominal legs.

Print Image

Eastern pine loopers pupate at the bases of the pines they feed on.

×

Eastern pine loopers pupate at the bases of the pines they feed on.

Print Image

This eastern pine looper moth is in its resting position, a broad triangle.

×

This eastern pine looper moth is in its resting position, a broad triangle.

Print Image

These eastern pine looper moths appear somewhat gray.

×

These eastern pine looper moths appear somewhat gray.

Print Image

Eastern pine looper eggs are pale green when first laid.

×

Eastern pine looper eggs are pale green when first laid.

Print Image

Eastern pine loopers feed on pitch pine, red pine, and other hard pines. It has also been reported to feed on oak (which seems like a stretch to me). These loopers chew out only a portion of a needle, which then turns brown. If an infestation is heavy and persists for 2 or 3 years, such defoliation may kill pines.

This is an extreme example of eastern pine looper damage.

×

This is an extreme example of eastern pine looper damage.

Print Image

Rarely do eastern pine loopers become abundant enough to even be noticed, although at times they have caused local defoliation of pines. If a specimen tree is small enough to spray, it should be possible to eliminate the loopers with a single application of a pyrethroid or another pesticide labeled for caterpillar control in residential landscapes. When used as directed, pyrethroids are very toxic to insects but are not particularly hazardous to humans and pets (other than fish—avoid using pyrethroids around pools, ponds, and streams). Such pesticides are available in the garden section of big box stores and in plant centers and nurseries.

• Pitch Pine Looper (Lambdina pellucidaria). Griffin, E. 2010 (last modified). BugwoodWiki.
• Insects of Eastern forests. Drooz, A. T. editor. 1985. USDA Forest Service Misc. Publication 1426. 608 pp.
• Extension Plant Pathology Publications and Factsheets
• Horticultural Science Publications
• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual

For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center.

This Factsheet has not been peer reviewed.