Brown pasture looper

Agronomist, Michael Taylor has reported finding high numbers of brown pasture loopers on volunteer canola plants within a wheat crop at Griffith, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Canola plants were mostly scattered around the paddock edges and showed significant insect feeding damage, however Michael says the caterpillars do not appear to be moving into the crop or damaging the wheat at this stage.

Brown pasture loopers (Ciampa arietaria) attack canola and lupin crops, as well as pastures and broadleaved weeds. They are often prevalent around patches of weeds, particularly capeweed, and around the edges of crops. For susceptible crops, these areas should be monitored closely and spot or perimeter spraying is often all that is required. There are several chemicals registered for the control of brown pasture loopers.

Larvae of the brown pasture looper vary in size, growing to 20–35 mm in length. They move using a series of back arches, which results in a characteristic looping motion. For some larger instars this looping action may be less conspicuous. Larvae are dark brown to grey in colour with a yellow line along the back either side of a conspicuous dark band. They have red spots surrounding the breathing holes (spiracles) on the sides of the body. Moths are pale dusty brown in colour with grey and brown streaks on the forewings.

Brown pasture loopers have just one generation per year. Adult moths lay eggs from March to June, after which the caterpillars hatch and are active for approximately 2 months. They are generally present from July to October and can cause early season defoliation of plants when numbers are high. They are most damaging when large sized caterpillars (>20 mm) transfer from summer and autumn weeds onto newly emerged seedlings.

Click here for images of the brown pasture looper.