Eight-spotted Forester, Alypia octomaculata (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Nocmidae)

The larva of the eight-spotted forester feeds on grape foliage; it devours everything except the heaviest veins and leaf petioles. The coloration of the larva is distinctive: black, white, orange and yellow. (Note similarity between forester larva and that of the following species, grapevine epimenis.) The larva, when fully grown, measures 1-1 1/4 inches in length. Largescale infestations are not common; however, small numbers of the larvae usually occur in most vineyards, causing some defoliation of the vines.

The eight-spotted forester overwinters as a pupa. Adult moths begin to emerge in May. A moth of this species is black, with a wingspan of 1-1 1/2 inches and a body length of about 5/8 inch. Each forewing has two yellow spots, each hind wing has two white spots and the thorax has a yellow stripe on each side. Eggs are laid on grape shoots and leaves. The larvae hatch and start to eat the foliage. They complete development by July, drop to the ground and pupate in tunnels they construct in old wood or trash just beneath the soil surface. Moths emerge during late July and August and lay eggs again. There may be two generations, or only a partial second generation, each year.

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