The bordered whiteorpine looper (Bupalus piniaria), is a moth of the familyGeometridae. Among these, it belongs to tribeBupalini of the subfamilyEnnominae. B. piniaria is a common species throughout the western Palearctic region, the Near East and North Africa. However, its presence in certain regions – e.g. the northern Balkans – is doubtful.[2]
Three subspecies are generally recognized, while two additional ones are doubtfully distinct:[3]
This moth is an inhabitant of coniferouswoodland. The adults fly in May and June,[6] sometimes later (up to August or so) in the north of the range. Their wingspan is 34–40 mm. This is a variable species with strong sexual dimorphism, always conspicuous in the antennae which are combed in the males and plain in the females. Females, particularly when filled with ripe eggs, also have a plumper abdomen.[7]
Bupalus piniaria ♂
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Bupalus piniaria♀
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The male has upperwings with broad dark brown borders and spots and a background varying from white in the north to deep yellow in southern populations. The female is plainer, varying from yellow to brown on the upperwings, which have slightly darker crosswise stripes. In both sexes, the wingtips are darkest. The underwings are less dimorphic, orange-brown with darker tips on the forewings and marbled light brown with a whitish lengthwise stripe on the hindwings in both sexes. The male's underwings have a wider whitish hindwing stripe and darker forewing tips, while the females have a more contrasting hindwing pattern. All four wings are bordered by a short fringe of alternating sections of white and dark brown hairs. Bilateral gynandromorphs are easily recognized in this species.[8]
The caterpillar (also known as a larva) can be a serious pest in conifer plantations.[9] They are green with pale lines and usually feed on various species of pine (Pinus), especially Scots pine (P. sylvestris) and European black pine (P. nigra). It has also been recorded feeding on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), larch (Larix) and spruce (Picea, e.g. Norway spruceP. abies). Larvae have four to six instars and pupate in the soil where they overwinter.[10]
^Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf
^Thompson, R. S. & Nelson, B. (August 2023). "Bordered White". Habitas.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Reissner, Hans (1942): Ein geteilter Zwitter von Bupalus piniarius L. ["A bilateral gynandromorph of the Bordered White"]. Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins27: 287-288 [in German]. PDF fulltext
Savela, Markku (2001): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Bupalus piniarius [sic]. Version of 1 October 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
Skinner, Bernard (1984): Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
