Eupsilia tristigmata

Eupsilia tristigmata, an early spring moth, that came to my porch light. The temperature was around 43 degrees F.

Larval hosts are plants in the Rose family (Rosaceae) and Blueberry Family (Ericaceae). The flight period for Eupsilia tristigmata is in the early spring before most plants have leafed out and again in late summer to early fall when the larvae have metamorphosed to adults.

This is a new record for my personal species checklist and the fourth early spring moth this year. As cool and damp as the weather is there are a number of Lepidoptera that are flying now most of which have overwintered as adults. Additionally, there are caterpillars that have overwintered in their next to the last instar and are feeding on bits of vegetation. Three that I've seen this week are the Woolly Bear (Pyrrharctia isabella), Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginiana), and Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa).