Eastern Hemlock Looper

The Hemlock Looper has one generation per year and overwinters as an egg. Eggs hatch between late May and late June and the young larvae feed on the new foliage; as they mature the later instar larvae will feed on both new and old foliage. The larvae develop through four or five instars depending on the region. They pupate from mid-July to end of August. After 10 to 15 days, adults moths emerge and mate. The moths are not very strong flyers and will mate in the general area of their emergence. The female lays small greenish eggs in small clusters (less than five) in various locations including branches, the bark or even in the litter on the forest floor where they overwinter.