Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Vitacea scepsiformis (Hy. Edwards, 1881)
Sciapteran scepsiformis Hy. Edwards, 1881
Memythrus scepsiformis
Paranthrene scepsiformis
* phylogenetic sequence #079275
Size
Forewing length 12-16 mm.
(1)
Wingspan: ♂ 25-30 mm, ♀ 34 mm.
(2)
Identification
Adult - hindwing, which is not visible, is key to positive identification. We will never really know since the HW fold(CuP)is really hidden. Both P.dollii and V. scepsiformis are closely related (same tribe) and are variable within their range. Female V.scepsiformis have a dark wide HW margin that when folded can look like P. dollii. See MONA Fascicle 5.1 Plate 1. figure 49.
Larva - white with brown head and light brown thoracic shield.
(3)Range
New York to Florida, west to Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.
(3)Food
Larvae feed under bark of grape roots. Known hosts are
Virginia creeper (
Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Vitaceae) and
Boston ivy (
Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Vitaceae).
(2),
(1),
(3)See Also
Larva indistinguishable from
Vitacea polistiformis (3)Print References
Brown, L.N. & R.F. Mizell, III 1993. The Clearwing Borers of Florida (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). Tropical Lepidoptera 4(4): 1-21 (
PDF)
(1)
Edwards, Hy. 1881. New Genera and new species of the family Aegeridae. Papilio 1(10):
183
Engelhardt, G.P. 1946. The North American Clear-wing Moths of the family Aegeriidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 190:
156-157 (2)
Solomon, J.D. 1995. Guide to insect borers in North American broadleaf trees and shrubs. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook AH-706: 106-108, f.41 (
Download Options)
(3)
