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Insect pests on Brassicaceae

Family	Morphology	Biology
Noctuidae Agrotis ipsilon Agrotis segetum Chrysodeixes eriosoma Helicoverpa armigera Spodoptera exigua Spodoptera litura Trichoplusia ni	Adults are small to large moths (wingspan 10-170 mm). The head is usually clothed with medium to long scales. The eyes are sometimes densely hairy. The antennae may be simple or gradually thickened to form a club. The great majority of noctuid larvae have very uniformely arranged setae, and are without secondary setae. Ventral prolegs may be present. Anal prolegs are present on segment 10.	The adults of most Noctuidae are nocturnal and attrackted by lights during nighcttime. They nearly always have cryptic patterns and colors. During the day nocturnal species hide amongst foliage. Most adults feed on flowers, a few are able to pierce fruits and suck liquids. The most larvae feed on foliage, flowers, flower buds and fruits. Many are borers in stems and roots. Most species larvae hide during the day, some borrow in the soil.
Pyralidae Crocidolomia pavonana Hellula undalis	Adults are small to large moths (wingspan 8-95 mm). The head is usually smooth-scaled and antennae filiform. The forewing in many genera is triangular in shape, but in others it is long and faily narrow. Larvae are often cylindrical and sometimes slender. Many are withou bright coloration or patterns.	The habits of the adults vary greatly. Many larvae are pests on vegetables and stored foodstuffs. Some live in shelters, by forming leaves or penetrating fruits.
Plutellidae Plutella xylostella	The adults are small moths (wingspan 7-28 mm) with short antennae. The wings are elongate and the fore wing may be narrow to broad.	Adults usually rest with their wings held steeply roofwise and the antennae extended. Larvae feed usually on undersides of leaves At maturity larvae spin a silken cocoon, often on the leaves of the food plant.
Pieridae Pieris rapae	Most species included in this family are of medium size. The hindwings are never tailed. Flight is often rapid but the smaller species usually fly erratically. Larvae feed on several plant families incuding Brassicaceae.	The adults of most Noctuidae are nocturnal and attrackted by lights during nighcttime. They nearly always have cryptic patterns and colors. During the day nocturnal species hide amongst foliage. Most adults feed on flowers, a few are able to pierce fruits and suck liquids. The most larvae feed on foliage, flowers, flower buds and fruits. Many are borers in stems and roots. Most species larvae hide during the day, some borrow in the soil.
Family	Morphology	Biology

Family

Morphology

Biology

Noctuidae

Agrotis ipsilon
Agrotis segetum
Chrysodeixes eriosoma
Helicoverpa armigera
Spodoptera exigua
Spodoptera litura
Trichoplusia ni

Adults are small to large moths (wingspan 10-170 mm). The head is usually clothed with medium to long scales. The eyes are sometimes densely hairy. The antennae may be simple or gradually thickened to form a club.

The great majority of noctuid larvae have very uniformely arranged setae, and are without secondary setae. Ventral prolegs may be present. Anal prolegs are present on segment 10.

The adults of most Noctuidae are nocturnal and attrackted by lights during nighcttime. They nearly always have cryptic patterns and colors. During the day nocturnal species hide amongst foliage. Most adults feed on flowers, a few are able to pierce fruits and suck liquids.

The most larvae feed on foliage, flowers, flower buds and fruits. Many are borers in stems and roots. Most species larvae hide during the day, some borrow in the soil.

Pyralidae

Crocidolomia pavonana
Hellula undalis

Adults are small to large moths (wingspan 8-95 mm). The head is usually smooth-scaled and antennae filiform. The forewing in many genera is triangular in shape, but in others it is long and faily narrow.

Larvae are often cylindrical and sometimes slender. Many are withou bright coloration or patterns.

The habits of the adults vary greatly.

Many larvae are pests on vegetables and stored foodstuffs. Some live in shelters, by forming leaves or penetrating fruits.

Plutellidae

Plutella xylostella

The adults are small moths (wingspan 7-28 mm) with short antennae. The wings are elongate and the fore wing may be narrow to broad.

Adults usually rest with their wings held steeply roofwise and the antennae extended.

Larvae feed usually on undersides of leaves At maturity larvae spin a silken cocoon, often on the leaves of the food plant.

Pieridae

Pieris rapae

Most species included in this family are of medium size. The hindwings are never tailed. Flight is often rapid but the smaller species usually fly erratically.

Larvae feed on several plant families incuding Brassicaceae.

The most larvae feed on foliage, flowers, flower buds and fruits. Many are borers in stems and roots. Most species larvae hide during the day, some borrow in the soil.

Family

Morphology

Biology