This colorful little moth has a wingspan of about one inch. The forewing is black with 2 large white spots in the median area and dark blue metallic shading. The hindwing has a broad, red band. The caterpillar is black with white rings. The head is orange with 5 black spots and the base of the midabdominal prolegs (near the end of the abdomen) is also orange with a black spot. It grows to an inch in length.
The Grapevine Epimenis is fairly common in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. It flies in late March to early May. The individual pictured here was photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late April. It is a day-flier and is often mistaken for a butterfly. The adults nectar on flowers of early flowering trees such as redbud, plum and sumac.
This moth is in the Foresters Subfamily (Agaristinae). The larval food is grapes. The caterpillar pulls the edges of a leaf together and ties it with silk thread to form a shelter.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.