Caterpillars That Are Large & Feed on Grape Vines

Moth caterpillars can destroy grapevines.

Caterpillars can be cute or bizarre-looking creatures, but they also destroy and ruin crops and plants. Grapevines host several types of caterpillars that eat and destroy their leaves. Most grapevine-eating caterpillars are moth larvae, as butterfly larvae tend to consume nectar and the leaves of other fruit trees. Caterpillars are pests for farmers and orchard keepers who try to make a living from their produce. When the larvae turn into beautiful moths, they lay eggs in grapevines and continue the cycle.

Grapevine Moth

Grapevine moths (Phalaenoides glycinae) are native to Australia and dine on a variety of plant life. As their name implies, though, they most commonly eat and hatch on grapevines. The grapevine moth itself is a black moth with a wingspan of up to 2 1/2 inches. The caterpillars are black, white and green with white hairs and red spots and can reach lengths of nearly two inches. While grapevine moth caterpillars like to eat grapevines, they usually don't destroy the vines unless they are overpopulated.

Sphinx Moth

Sphinx moths (Sphingidae) are a family of large, colorful moths that commonly lay eggs on grapevines. Sometimes called hawk moths, their caterpillar larvae are sometimes called hornworms because they are large and sport an upturned horn on their backs. Sphinx moth caterpillars can grow up to 4 inches in length and are thick, green caterpillars with wavelike patterns on their sides. They don't do terrible damage to grapevines and, in fact, they also eat mites and other pests in addition to grapevine leaves.

Grape Leaf Skeletonizer

The grape leaf skeletonizer (Harrisina americana) is a medium sized moth that lays eggs in grapevines. Grape leaf skeletonizers are round black and yellow caterpillars that grow to 1/2 to 1 inch in length but feast in large numbers, devouring all grape leaves in sight. These caterpillars are incredibly destructive to grapevines, eating most of the layers of leaves so that the leaves turn brown when they are young. As they grow during their 40-day lifespan, the caterpillars eat the juicy bits of leaves so that only the veins or skeletons remain.

References

• University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Featured Creatures: Grapeleaf Skeletonizer
• Profitable and Sustainable Primary Industries: Grapevine Pests and Their Management
• Colorado State University Extension: Hornworms and "Hummingbird Moths"
• Butterflies and Moths of North America: Taxonomic Groups