Loopers: Two
species of loopers are commonly found in Mississippi cotton, the cabbage
looper and the soybean looper. Distinguishing between these two species
can be challenging, but in general, loopers are easily identified by
the fact that they only have two pairs of abdominal prolegs, which
causes them to move in a "looping" manner (most caterpillars have four
pairs of abdominal prolegs). Eggs are deposited individually on the
undersides of leaves and the young
looper larvae begins feeding at this site soon after hatching.
Loopers are strictly foliage feeders, so defoliation
by larger larvae is the type of damage inflicted. Loopers
pupate on the undersides of leaves after spinning a very thin,
transparent cocoon. Looper
moths are easily identified by the distinct silver spots located
on each forewing.
