Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Plutella porrectella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Tinea porrectella Linnaeus, 1758
* phylogenetic sequence #074050
Explanation of Names
Specific epithet
porrectella is Latin meaning "outstretched," as the antennae in this moth.
(2)Size
Wingspan 14-17 mm.
Forewing length 5.5-7.5 mm.
(3)Identification
Adult - forewing with broad medium-brown longitudinal streaks on a pale brown or whitish background; antennae with three dark bands near the tip.
Range
Introduced from Europe. First discoverd in the eastern United States in 1860 and California and Oregon by 1872. Now known throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada as well as the Pacific Coast states and British Columbia. Braun collected them in northern Utah in 1925.
(1),
(3)Food
Larvae feed on
Hesperis species, commonly on
Dame's rocket (
Hesperis matronalis, Brassicaceae), a colorful member of the mustard family known as Dame's violet in Europe. It grows in large stands in southeastern Canada and northeastern United States, south in the mountains to Georgia, blooming in late spring and early summer. In California the larvae are also associated with species of
wallflower (
Erysimum, Brassicaceae).
(3)Life Cycle
Two or more generations per year. Overwinter as early instar larva in apical bud of host plant. The larva goes through four instars. Known parasites include the Ichneumon wasp
Itoplectis conquisitor (Smith & Sears, 1984).
See Also
Plutella xylostella - has a wavy band of yellowish white along the dorsal margin with the peak at mid-wing. In
porrectella there is no differentiated dorsal band and the fringe is dark brown. Also, note the three dark bands near the tip of the antenna in
porrectella.
(3) Print References
Braun, A.F. 1925. Microlepidoptera of Northern Utah. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 51(3): 205 (
open access)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. pl.11.17m, p.107
(3)
Smith D.B. & M.K.Sears 1984. Life History of
Plutella porrectella, a relative of the Diamondback Moth,
Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae). The Canadian Entomologist 116(7): 913-917 (
abstract)
Internet References
live adult image plus description and larval food plant (UK Moths)
pinned adult image (B. Gustafsson, Natural History Museum of Sweden)
