Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer – Harrisina brillans

Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer – Harrisina brillans Scientific name: Western grapeleaf skeletonizer Common name: Harrisina brillans   Appearance: Western grapeleaf skeletonizer is a metallic bluish or greenish moth with a black body and pair of wings. It is almost 15 mm long and has a 25 mm wingspan, with the forewings larger and broader than the hindwings. As the larva grows,  it turns from cream to yellowish-green. The larvae also have brownish-black bands on the back and pupates in a grayish-whitish cocoon.   Host plants or food: Western grapeleaf skeletonizer feeds mainly on grapes and Virginia creeper   Territory: Throughout North America   Mode of damage: Western grapeleaf skeletonizer loves chewing on leaves and damages the plant by chewing on the lower surface of the leaves. It feeds on the leaf tissue, leaving behind the veins, resulting in a paperlike appearance of the leaves. After complete defoliation, the larvae may feed on grape clusters.   Habits and life history   Western grapeleaf skeletonizer has four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The female moth lays eggs, which give rise to the larvae. The larvae go through 5 instars to transform into an adult. They pupate in winter and emerge as adults during the spring. It takes western grapeleaf skeletonizers two months to complete its lifecycle and transform from an egg to an adult. They produce 2 to 3 generations per year.