Cabbage Centre Grub
Hellula hydralis and Hellula undalis
Family: - Pyralidae
Order: - Lepidoptera
Description:
Adult
Colour - Buff grey. Mottled.
Body - Small. Stout with long hair scales.
Wings - Mottled. 2 Pairs. Membranous. Hairy
Broad, Wingspan up to 180mm in some species.
Mouthparts - Naked proboscis.
Antennae - 3 segments. Filiform (Finely hair like).
Legs - Broad overlapping scales. Feet (Tarsi) have 5 segments.
Head - Broad overlapping scales. Large rounded compound eyes.
Thorax - Broad overlapping scales. 3 segments. Front segment much smaller. Hairy
Abdomen - Broad overlapping scales. 7-11 segments. Spiracles on segments 1-7. Hairy
Egg - Flat.
Habits - Can't fly when cold.
Caterpillar -
Colour - Pale yellow with dark marks on its back.
Body - 10-15mm long, 5-10mm wide.
Mouthparts - Chewing.
Antennae - Short. 3 segments.
Legs - 5 segments. Single claw on end.
Head - Hard.
Thorax - 10-11 segments. Spiracles on segments 1 to 8. Prolegs on segments 3, 6 and 10.
Abdomen -
Habits - Herbivorous.
Biology:
Life Cycle:
Eggs are laid on the host plant. Caterpillar mines the leaves when young then bores into the growing point. It pupates on the host.
Habitats:
Origin and History:
Distribution:
Significance:
Caterpillars bore into the centre of cabbages and other Brassicas. Minor pest of turnips in Victoria where it bores into the growing point.
Management and Control:
In most years control is not economic.
Related Species:
Cabbage Cluster Caterpillar (Crocidolomia pavonana), Cucumber Moth (Diaphania indica), Wax moths (Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella), Rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica), Meal moth (Pyralis farinalis)
Similar Species:
References:
CSIRO. The Insects of Australia. Melbourne University Press. (1991) p889.
Victorian Department of Agriculture. Insect Bulletins. p24.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 for more information.