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Species Plutella xylostella - Diamondback Moth - Hodges#2366

Diamondback Moth - Hodges#2366 - Plutella xylostella Plutella xylostella - Diamondback Moth - Hodges#2366 for April for LA - Plutella xylostella Diamondback moth - Plutella xylostella Diamondback moth moth? - Plutella xylostella small moth on London Rocket plants - Plutella xylostella lacy cocoon on Lepidium oblongum - Plutella xylostella PLUTELLIDAE Plutella xylostella - 2366 Diamondback Moth?? - Plutella xylostella Plutella xylostella
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Yponomeutoidea (Ermine Moths and kin)
Family Plutellidae (Diamondback Moths)
Genus Plutella
Species xylostella (Diamondback Moth - Hodges#2366)
Hodges Number
2366
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Phalaena xylostella Linnaeus, 1758
Cerostoma maculipennis Curtis, 1832
Size
Covell (1984) listed the wingspan 12-15 mm. (1)
Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 5.5-7.5 mm .(2)
Identification
Range
Probably of European or Eurasian origin but is now found throughout the world. It was first observed in North America in 1854 and is now common in the U.S. and southern Canada.
Season
Probably three or more generations occur on Block Island, RI, where adults are commonest in June and July but fly at least from April to October.(3)
Food
Plants and crops in the family Brassicaceae, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collard, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, turnip, and watercress.
Life Cycle
The female reproductive period becomes longer when no host plant is present.(4)
Females lay eggs more easily on a rough, unequal surface than one a smooth one.(5)

Adults sometimes go through mass migrations which is unusual for microlepidoptera. There are up to seven generations per year (Powell & Opler, 2009). See "Featured Creatures" below.
Larva; larva making cocoon; cocoon; cocoon; adult
Remarks
Brassicaceae produce a volatile hydrolysis products (isothiocyanates) that serves as an attractant.(6)
The parasitoid Cotesia plutellae and the bacterial pathogen, Bacillus theruingiensis attack this host. In susceptible hosts, the pathogen negatively affects the parasitoid. In moderately susceptible hosts, the interaction is competitive. Highly resistant hosts fight off the pathogen and provide a refuge for the parasitoid.(6)
See Also
Epinotia albicapitana Epinotia lindana
Ypsolopha dentella has a spur projecting diagonally from the pale forewing strip about two-thirds distance from base, and its forewing tip is hooked
Aristotelia corallina
Monopis dorsistrigella
Rhigognostis poulella is twice the size
Print References
Covell Jr., C. V. 1984. Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America. Virginia Museum of Natural History. p. 432; plate 60, fig. 25. (1)
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Syst. Nat. 10(1): 538
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. plate 11, fig. 16; p. 107 (2)
Internet References
live adult images plus description, foodplants, flight dates (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.
2.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
3.Block Island Moths
4.Insect-Plant Biology
L.M. Schoonhoven, T. Jermy, and J.J.A. Van Loon. 1998. Chapman and Hall.
5.Interrelationship Between Insects and Plants
Pierre Jolivet. 1998. CRC Press.
6.Insect Ecology: Behavior, Populations and Communities
P. W. Price, R. F. Denno, M. D. Eubanks. 2011. Cambridge University Press.
7.North American Moth Photographers Group
8.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems