Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
3 synonyms listed at
All-Leps:
brillians, elongata, tessacens
the all-black "brillians" form was formerly considered a separate species and assigned the Hodges Number 4621
Numbers
one of 3 species in this genus in North America listed at
All-LepsSize
wingspan 22-30 mm, based on photos by Jim Vargo at MPG and Bruce Walsh at Moths of Southeastern Arizona
Identification
Adult: body and wings black with bluish or greenish tint; collar dull orange or red (except in form "brillians" which has black collar)
Larva: later instars broadly striped across blue and yellow with narrower black bands. CAUTION! black hairs of especially late-instar larvae may cause an allergic reaction
Egg: yellowish or white, laid in clusters of 10-100 on undersides of leaves
Range
Native to southwestern USA and northern Mexico. Occurs from California to Texas, north to Colorado and Utah.
Food
Larvae are a major defoliating pest of grapes, and also feed on Parthenocissus species.
Life Cycle
Overwinters as a pupa enclosed in silken cocoon on the ground amongst leaf-litter. Adults emerge and lay eggs on leaves soon after bud-break in spring. Early instars feed gregariously on undersides of leaves which they skeletonize. Later instars spread out and may defoliate entire vineyards. Several generations per year.
Remarks
Larvae are a severe pest in some California vineyards.
See Also
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer (
Harrisina americana) is very similar but occurs in the eastern states and always has an orange collar
Internet References
pinned adult images of
"typical" form with orange collar, and
"brillians" form with black collar (Bruce Walsh,
Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
pinned adult image of "brillians" form by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)
species account in California including biology, control methods, photos of larvae and adult (Colorado State University)
live larvae image (Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State U., courtesy insectimages.org)
distribution; Word doc (Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service)
California specimen records of
"typical" form and
"brillians" form with locations and dates (U. of California at Berkeley)
