Crocidolomia binotalis (pavonana),

Hellula undalis, H. phidilealis

Cabbage moths  

General

• Insects belonging to the Pyraloidae superfamily and to the Crambidae family. The species encountered in the French overseas departments and territories are:
  • Hellula undalis very widespread in the world: found as well in Europe as in Africa, Asia, as well as in certain islands of the Pacific.
  • Crocidolomia binotalis affects a large part of the inter-tropical zone (Africa, Asia, Australia and some islands of the Pacific).
  • Hellula phidilealis : its presence remains for the moment confined to the inter-tropical zone of the American continent and certain islands of the Caribbean Sea. It is however absent from Guadeloupe and Martinique.
• Adults, moth-type moths attack many plants of the Brassicaceae family.
• Observed in the open field as well as under shelter (soilless cultivation of Chinese cabbage)

• Sensitive botanical family (s) *

* These moths attack many species of plants of the Brassicaceae family including: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnip, radish, and mustard. Note that C. binotalis can also feed on watercress and thyme.

• Affected production areas :

• Organs attacked

Symptoms, damage

• Symptoms :
  • Leaves especially, but also inflorescences, young leaves of the heart (especially C. binotalis ) grazed superficially by the caterpillars.
  • perforations of the stems and ribs of the leaves (especially H. undalis ).

• Signs : Presence of caterpillars on plants, and in the crop (figures).

• Possible confusion :

Biology

• Development cycle : Eggs are laid singly in Hellula spp. or in in bundles C. binotalis .
  • The larvae develop on the foliage. Various signs can be used to distinguish species:
    • caterpillars C. binotalis are grouped and concentrated in the heart of the plant, rather green, bearing 3 longitudinal white lines on the back and 2 white lines and black dots on the lateral part of the body.
    • the caterpillars of Hellula spp. are whitish to beige with 2 light brown longitudinal lines on each side of the body.
    • Some hairs are present on the caterpillars of Crocidolomia , while those of Hellula are lacking. The end of the body of the first tracks are fork-shaped.
  • Pupation taking place a few centimeters below the surface of the balance ( C. binotalis ), in a cocoon on plants ( Hellula spp.).
  • The adults are small butterflies (about 2 cm) of gray-beige color. When posed, they are longer than they are wide and have a triangular hang-glider shape.

Protection

• Produce the plants in an nursery insect-proof , insect-proof at best under nets to avoid early attacks on the plants as well as egg laying.
• Avoid repeating Brassica crops on the same plot.
• Check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the crop or shelter.
• Place in the culture sticky plates to detect the presence of adult moths.
• Install  type P17 non-woven netting,  insect-proof in particular in the presence of small tunnel planting areas.
• Use biopesticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis, effective if applied as soon as the young stages of caterpillars appear.
• interventions Phytosanitary against the moths of the genus Hellula must be carried out before the caterpillars enter the plant, otherwise they will no longer be accessible.