Bug FAQGrapevine Looper Moths
Eulithis diversilineata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: Grapevine Looper, Lesser Grapevine Looper, Lesser Grapevine Looper Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The larvae are very elongate, yellow-green to red, and can reach about 4 cm long, with a cleft head and colored swelling on the second thoracic segment. They feed on grape and Virginia creeper and are found in forests and along roadsides across North America. Two generations appear, the first in June-July and the second from August into October.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The caterpillar has a cleft head, conspicuous paraprocts, and a subtle pigmented swelling on its second thoracic segment. Its head, legs, front prolegs and paraprocts may show russet, red or violet tones, and it can have a reddish middorsal stripe or spots on abdominal segments.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Mature larvae grow up to about 4 cm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in forested areas and along roadsides.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The moth overwinters as an egg and produces two generations of caterpillars each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
First-generation caterpillars appear in June and July; a second generation appears from August through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with the Greater Grapevine Looper (Eulithis gracilineata) or the Chevron Moth (Eulithis testata).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do grapevine looper caterpillars eat?
They feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I expect to see these caterpillars?
The first generation appears in June-July and a second generation from August into October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are grapevine looper moths found?
They live in forests and along roadsides throughout North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eulithis_diversilineata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.