Plusiinae

Plusiinae is a subfamily of moths in the Noctuidae family. The Plusiinae are a distinctive subfamily of moths in the family Noctuidae, often called looper moths, silver Y moths, or cabbage loopers. They are well-known both for their unique wing markings and for their larval locomotion. A moderately large subfamily, with several hundred described species distributed worldwide. They are medium-sized moths, usually with metallic spots or patches on the forewings (often silvery or golden). The wings are often patterned with browns, grays, or greens, giving camouflage among foliage. At rest thewings are held tent-like over the body, often forming a steep roof shape. The hindwings are typically paler and less patterned. They are strong fliers and several species are migratory. The larvae lack some mid-abdominal prolegs, so they move with a looping, "inchworm" gait, arching their bodies as they crawl. As they are typically green they are well-camouflaged on foliage. Feed externally on leaves, often skeletonizing or chewing irregular holes. The subfamily includes major crop pests, such as the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), which damages brassicas and other vegetables. Autographa gamma (Silver Y moth) is a serious pest of legumes, brassicas, and ornamentals, and is notorious for mass migrations across Europe.