Psychomorpha epimenis
Grapevine Epimenis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Noctuidae |
Genus: | Psychomorpha |
Species: | P. epimenis |
Binomial name | |
Psychomorpha epimenis (Drury, 1782) | |
Synonyms | |
|
The Grapevine Epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis) is a North American moth in the family Noctuidae.
Description
The wings and body are black with a large white fore wing patch and a red hind wing patch. The wingspan ranges from 2.2 to 2.7 cm.[1] Keziah Elizabeth of Central Oklahoma remembers seeing this moth. "It was small...very small.P. e. euryrhoda has a red hind wing patch that stretches almost all the way to the base of the wing.[1]
Subspecies
- Psychomorpha epimenis epimenis
- Psychomorpha epimenis euryrhoda (Florida)
Habitat
This moth may be encountered in woodlands, woodland edges, and hedgerows.[2]
Flight
The Grapevine Epimenis is a spring moth which may be found from March to early May.[1]
Life cycle
The larva is black with transverse white stripes. The head, part of the thorax, the area near the end of the abdomen, and the prolegs are a reddish-orange color. The larva makes a leaf shelter in new foliage by taking the leaf edges and pulling them upward and then tying them together with silk. The pupa hibernates in wood or dense peat. It has 1 brood per year.[2]
Host plants
Here is a list of host plants used by the Grapevine Epimenis:
- Summer Grapevine, Vitis aestivalis
- Fox Grapevine, Vitis labrusca
- Riverbank Grapevine, Vitis riparia
- Frost Grapevine, Vitis vulpina[2]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psychomorpha epimenis. |