Eightspotted Forester – Alypia octomaculata

Eightspotted Forester – Alypiaoctomaculata Common Name: Eightspotted Forester Latin Name: Alypiaoctomaculata Appearance: Adult eight-spotted foresters seem like butterflies: they fly throughout the day, drink from flowers, and even have enlarged antennae at the tips. The general hue of the wings is black. The forewings are pale yellow with two white dots, while the hindwings are white with two white spots. The majority of the body is black. Patches of brilliant orange hair cover the front and middle pairs of legs. The flight is darting and rapid. The black-and-white pattern produces a flashing effect similar to a strobe light. Larvae are white lavender, with numerous short, black transverse lines and one large orange band on each segment. On the body, there are little black tubercles and white dots in the abdomen. The head is bright orange. Host plant:  Grapes, Virginia creeper Territory: It is native to Canada but can be found today throughout Northern America, ranging between Nova Scotia to Florida and South Dakota to Texas. Life history and Habits:   Adults are most commonly seen in the spring when they emerge from their cocoons, then again in August as the second brood emerges. This species spends the winter as a pupa, concealed in dirt or gaps in the wood. This species, unlike most other moths, flies throughout the day. Adults are most commonly found where wooded areas border open regions – the open spaces give the flowers from which the adults drink. In contrast, the wooded areas provide the grapevines and Virginia creepers from which they consume as larvae and deposit their eggs.