Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Harrisina metallica Stretch, 1885
Harrisina coracina sensu Neumoegen & Dyer, 1894:65
Harrisina brillians Barnes & McDunnough, 1910 - n. syn. Tarmann (1984)
Harrisina elongata Druce, 1896
Harrisina tessacens Dyar, 1912
Size
wingspan 22-30 mm - MPG and Moths of SE AZ
Identification
Adult: body and wings black with bluish or greenish tint; collar dull orange or red as described by Stretch (1885) 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
sw US: (so. CA to c. TX, n. to Wyo.) / n. Mex. -
Map (MPG)
Type Locality: NM
Food
Larvae are a major defoliating pest of grapes - Vitis spp., and also feed on creeper - Parthenocissus spp. (Vitaceae)
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) - very similar but in e. US and always has an orange collar
Print References
Barnes, W. & J.H. McDunnough, 1910. New Species and Varieties of North American Lepidoptera. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 18:
163
Halstead, J.A. , 1987. A new host for Brachymeria ovata (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) - Harrisina brillians (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae). Entomological News, 98: 51.
Scoble, M.J., 1995. The Lepidoptera: form, function, and diversity. 2nd edition. Oxford Univ. Press.
Stretch, 1885. Descriptions of new species of Heterocera. Entomologica Americana. 1:
102
Tarmann, G., 1984. Generische Revision der amerikanischen Zygaenidae mit Beschreibung neuer Gattungen und Arten (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Teil 1. Entomofauna Supplement,
2(1): 40.
Wagner, D.L., 2005. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton Univ. Press.
Internet References
Southwestmoths.org - species page with photos of cocoon and pupa
