Grape Leaf Skeletonizer

19 years ago

I was cleaning up some debris from where we had a dead pine right by the garage taken down - it's been there since the hurricane - and there were dead wild grapevine/muscadine branches on the ground. I saw what looked like a monarch cat, so I went in the house, looked in my best cat book, and ID'd it as a grape leaf skeletonizer. I cut off a fresh grapevine branch, got the cat to get on it, and now I'm raising it in my smallest container. The adult moth is interesting looking, more like a damselfly than a moth - I've seen the adults here frequently, and didn't know what they were. My book said that if you touch one of these, you'll have a rash for 1-3 days - I'm glad I didn't touch it!

{{gwi:489609}}
MissSherry

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Comments (5)

susanlynne48
19 years ago
Cool! The adults remind me of the Virginia Ctenucha moth, too. The adults look similar to wasps IMHO.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth
Butterflyer1966
19 years ago
Hi,
interesting caterpillar..I have seen the adult Moth before, but never the larva...
Greetings
Susanne(SUE)
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Michelle Reynolds
19 years ago
hi
thats strange, you never know what your gonna find do you?
what a neet find
michelle
MissSherry
Original Author
19 years ago
That's an interesting link, Susan - I've never studied the smoky moths.
I like the way they move their wings, Sue!
Yes, Michelle, living out here in the woods, I find some VERY interesting things!
I gave it a fresh little branch - tomorrow I'm going to put some dried leaves in the container, because the book said that they liked to make their cocoon there. I think I'll just put the leaves in one little pile - it'll make for easier cleaning, which I'll have to consider, since it'll be making poop that'll fall in the leaf litter.
MissSherry
susanlynne48
19 years ago
They are cool - I have some, plus the grapeleaf roller as well. If you find leaves rolled up and sewn shut with silk, you probably have these cats.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Grape Leaf Roller Moth