About Alsophila pometaria (Harris, 1841)
This species, Alsophila pometaria, has the following physical characteristics across its life stages. Fully grown caterpillars reach approximately 25 mm in length, and their base color ranges from light green to dark brownish green. Light green caterpillars have white lines running down the full length of their bodies from head to abdominal tip, while darker-colored caterpillars have a black stripe along the entire length of their back. Larvae have three pairs of legs on their thorax, and three pairs of prolegs on their abdomen. Unlike the typical arrangement found in most Geometridae, the first pair of prolegs is located on segment 8, a trait more commonly seen in Noctuidae; this first pair is much smaller than the last two pairs. The second of these is located on segment 9, a position that is typical for geometer moths, while the final one is the pygopodium at the end of the body. The pupa is enclosed in a silk cocoon and buried just under the ground surface. Adult males have a wingspan of 25 to 35 mm. Their forewings are glossy brown, crossed by irregular white bands. Adult females are brownish gray, wingless, and measure 10 to 12 mm in body length. Eggs are grayish brown, with a dot and a ring on the top, and measure less than 1 mm in diameter.
