Comments for
Yellow caterpillar with black and blue bands (Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer)

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Western Grapeleaf Skeltonizer
by: Anonymous

Harrisina metallica is quite a defoliator I live in San Diego and recently discovered an absolute horde of this species decimating the next door neighbors grape vines. Within the span of about 3-5 days well over a thousand have scoured the grape leaves, with leaves having up to 70 or more in organized clusters.

The vast majority are approximately 5mm in length and around 10% are 1cm.

In terms of attractiveness of adult phase, this species certainly is no Blue Morpho but regardless, the fecundity of this species is remarkable. Certainly capable of destroying an entire vineyard
Thanks!
by: Anonymous

That is definitely the little culprit and we have seen the moth on the grapes as well. Obviously this group decided to move from California to New Mexico.

Thanks again.
Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer
by: Moni

Lynne
This rather 'pretty' caterpillar is a pest of grapes.
These caterpillars can defoliate grapevines, tho they also eat plants in the Virginia creeper (or called 5 leaf ivy) family.
Here are images of the larva and moth.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/5720/bgimage

Since it is a moth caterpillar it can be controlled with Bt, if you can not just pick them all off and put them in a bucket of soapy water.

Here is a complete discussion about them if you are interested from Univ of CA - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r302301011.html

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