Mesoleuca gratulata

Many naturalists must have wondered what the small, pretty black-and-white moth is that can be seen flitting conspicuously in the woodlands on southern Vancouver Island in late March and April. This is the one. They can sometimes be seen taking nectar from Erythronium lilies. The eggs are laid singly on the leaves or buds of Blackberry Rubus discolor or Thimbleberry R. parviflora. The caterpillars hatch within ten days or so and they pupate after a further three weeks. The moths emerge the following spring.