grapevine epimenis

(Psychomorpha epimenis)

grapevine epimenis
  Hodges #

9309

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Grapevine epimenis is an uncommon but easily recognized forester moth. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains and in adjacent Canadian provinces. In Minnesota it is uncommon in the southern half of the state, absent from the north. The larvae feeds on grape leaves. It creates a shelter by folding over the edge of a leaf and securing it with silk. It feeds within the shelter. Adults are found from March to June in woodlands, at forest edges, and on hedgerows.

The adult is ½ to 916 (12 to 14 mm) long and has a to 1116 (22 to 27 mm) wingspan. The body and is jet black and covered with short soft hairs giving it a velvety appearance. The forewing is black and is dusted with small white specks and metallic blue scales. The blue scales are visible only when viewed at an angle. There is a single large white patch in the median area. The patch is notched on the inside by the bottom of the kidney-shaped spot (reniform spot). The circular spot in the upper median area (orbicular spot) and the reniform spot are black and free of white specks and blue scales but still difficult to separate from the similarly colored background. There is a dense band of metalic blue scales in the submarginal area. The hindwing is mostly black and only slightly dusted with white specks and metalic blue scales. There is a broad orange, reddish-orange, or yellowish-orange patch and a broad black margin on the outer third of the hindwing.

The larvae (caterpillar) is white with black and orange markings, and is about 1 (2.5 cm) long. The head is orange with black spots. Abdominal segments 1 through 7 each have three narrow black horizontal bands. The membrane between each segment also has a black band. Abdominal segment 8 is humped and has an orange patch above (distally). The orange cap has several large, round, black spots. The leg-like abdominal structures (prolegs) are waxy orange with black spots. The thorax is similarly colored and has an orange plate (prothoracic shield) above.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: ½ to 916 (12 to 14 mm)

Wingspan: to 1116 (22 to 27 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Woodlands, forest edges, hedgerows

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

One generation per year: March to June

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

The larva creates a shelter by folding over the edge of a leaf and securing it with silk. It feeds within the shelter.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The pupa bore into rotten wood to overwinter.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Leaves of silverleaf grape and wild grape

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Flower nectar

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 21, 27, 29, 30, 75, 82.

 
  9/9/2020      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Noctuidae (cutworm moths and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Agaristinae (forester moths)  
 

Genus

Psychomorpha  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

grapevine epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis epimenis)

grapevine epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis euryrhoda)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Psychomorpha euryrhoda

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

grapevine epimenis

grapevine epimenis moth (adult)

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Orbicular spot

A circular spot or outline in the upper median area near the antemedial line on the forewing of many moths.

 

Proleg

A fleshy structure on the abdomen of some insect larvae that functions as a leg, but lacks the five segments of a true insect leg.

 

Prothoracic shield

The hardened plate on the dorsal surface of the first segment of the thorax.

 

Reniform spot

A kidney-shaped spot or outline in the lower median area near the PM line on the forewing of many moths.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Created: 9/9/2020

Last Updated:

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